Youth in New Brunswick are not meeting national health behaviour guidelines, according to new data released by the New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC).
The findings reveal concerning trends in physical activity, sleep, screen time, and substance use among students in grades 6 through 12.
NBHC found that 21 per cent of students in New Brunswick said they’ve tried substances such as alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, or vaping products.
Only 24 per cent are getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, and just 12 percent are limiting recreational screen time to two hours or less.
These findings come from the New Brunswick Health Council’s latest Student Wellness and Education Survey, conducted in all public schools in November 2024.
More than 68,000 students and parents participated in the province-wide survey. Council CEO Stéphane Robichaud calls the results a call to action.
He says many youth are not engaging in the health behaviours known to support strong mental and physical well-being, and that this is a community issue, not just a youth issue.
The Council notes wide variation across New Brunswick’s 33 communities.
Youth in the New Maryland Area were most likely to meet movement guidelines, while the Saint John Area consistently fell below the provincial average.
Substance use was highest in the Perth-Andover, Douglas, and Salisbury areas, and lowest in Moncton.
Robichaud adds that improving youth health will require long-term, coordinated efforts tailored to local realities.
