The Overlooked Link Between Sustainability and Youth Health

By Ardra Arwin - Member of TECH, student at Skyline High School

When people think about sustainability, they often focus on climate change, recycling, or clean energy. Conversations around substance abuse prevention, on the other hand, tend to center on personal health and individual decision-making. However, these two issues are more closely connected than they appear.

At the Issaquah Sustainability Fair 2026, it became clear that sustainability is not only about protecting the environment, but also about shaping the spaces we live in and the behaviors we normalize. The choices individuals make, especially young people, extend beyond personal impact and influence community health and safety.

A key theme throughout the event was that small choices matter. This idea applies not only to environmental actions, such as reducing waste or conserving energy, but also to the everyday decisions teens face. Adolescents are constantly navigating stress, social expectations, and peer influence. The same awareness and long-term thinking encouraged in sustainability are also essential in making healthy decisions related to substance use.
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​Despite progress in prevention efforts, vaping remains a concern among youth. In King County, approximately one in fourteen teens reported vaping in the past month, with rates increasing to over eleven percent among twelfth graders. Within the Issaquah School District, local data shows that about eight percent of twelfth-grade students reported vaping in the past thirty days. While these numbers may be lower than state averages, they still represent a significant number of students and highlight the need for continued prevention efforts.

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One often overlooked issue is the environmental impact of disposable vapes. These devices are designed for convenience and short-term use, but they frequently end up discarded in public spaces such as parks, sidewalks, and school grounds. 

Made from plastic, lithium-ion batteries, and chemical components, they do not easily break down and can release harmful substances into the environment. In addition to their environmental impact, their visibility in public spaces can contribute to the normalization of vaping among younger students.
Improper disposal of syringes presents another intersection between substance use and community health. When needles are left in public areas, they pose immediate safety risks, including potential injury and exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes the

importance of proper sharps disposal to prevent the spread of infections. When these materials are not disposed of safely, the consequences extend beyond the individual and affect the broader community.

For young people, the environments they are exposed to play a critical role in shaping perceptions and behavior. Seeing substance-related waste or unsafe conditions can lower the perceived risk of these behaviors. At the same time, positive engagement in community initiatives can have the opposite effect. Across Washington, more than eighteen percent of high school students report using a nicotine product in the past year, underscoring the importance of prevention efforts that go beyond awareness alone.
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There is also a growing movement among youth toward sustainability and community engagement. Students are increasingly participating in activities such as volunteering, habitat restoration, composting, upcycling, and learning practical skills like sewing and growing food. These experiences foster a sense of responsibility, purpose, and connection to the community, all of which are recognized as protective factors against substance use.

Substance abuse prevention is often framed in terms of avoidance, focusing on what young people should not do. While education remains important, it is equally critical to provide opportunities for meaningful involvement and to help teens understand the broader impact of their choices. Sustainability offers a framework for this by connecting individual behavior to environmental and community outcomes.

Ultimately, both sustainability and substance abuse prevention are rooted in shared responsibility. Everyday decisions, whether related to personal behavior or environmental impact, contribute to the overall health and safety of a community. Addressing these issues together provides an opportunity to create environments where healthier choices are supported and reinforced.

The connection between sustainability and substance use may not always be immediately visible, but it is significant. From disposable vape waste to improperly discarded syringes, individual actions can have lasting effects on both environmental and public health. By recognizing these connections and supporting initiatives that promote engagement and awareness, communities can take a more comprehensive approach to prevention.
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Protecting the environment and protecting community health are not separate goals. They are part of the same effort to build safer, healthier spaces for everyone.