Hazlet Ranks Among Highest Student Drug, Alcohol Cases In NJ

HAZLET, NJ - The state has released its annual list of substance abuse cases reported by each school district this week, with Hazlet Public Schools reporting among the highest number of substance use cases in 2019-20.

According to the new data, Hazlet ranked at No. 27 on the list of highest cases during the school year, reporting 10.56 cases per 1,000 students.

Of the 322 school districts included in the new data, seven Monmouth County school districts ranked in the top 50: Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission School District (No. 1), Monmouth Regional High School (No. 12), Keansburg School District (No. 21), Red Bank Regional School District (No. 22), Hazlet Township Public School District (No. 27), Long Branch Public High School District (No. 28) and Keyport School District (No. 45).

In 2020, nearby Holmdel schools reported .35 cases per 1,000 students, coming in at No. 318 out of 322 school districts.

However, Hazlet reported a 5.28 percent decrease in substance abuse cases from 2018-19 to 2019-20 per 1,000 students. By comparison, Holmdel schools reported a .69 percent decrease in the same time period.

But while drugs and alcohol continue to be a pervasive problem in the state's cities and suburban areas amid the coronavirus crisis, teen vaping may be driving up the numbers, school officials told Patch.

"We have always stated that the annual School Performance Reports serve as a springboard for discussion," said Angelica Allen-McMillan, acting commissioner of education. "These discussions are more important now than ever before as students, staff, and others in the school community navigate this difficult time."

Hazlet Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley told Patch that the district does indeed report vapes as drug paraphernalia as it stands in violation of the district drug and alcohol policy.

"Regarding ... the pandemic’s having contributed to this increase as well, we lack available data in that regard but would sincerely hope, more so than ever during these uncertain times, that our students would take advantage of one or more of the programs cited above before resorting to drugs or alcohol," Ridley told Patch in an emailed statement.

The Hazlet school district - which serves around 2,800 students, including about 900 high schoolers - offers numerous programs to support local youth, Ridley said. Groups such as #NEO (Not Even Once) and LEAD serve as partnerships between the school district and the Hazlet Township Police Department to inform students about substance use and abuse. Clubs such as Heroes and Cool Kids and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) empower student members to make good decisions concerning drugs and alcohol, anti-bullying and other issues, while health curricula in middle and high school include drug awareness learning activities.

The Hazlet Alliance and Hazlet Hope Network offer support to the school community through student assemblies, parent presentations, peer training programs, community awareness events, and organizations’ presence at Back to School Nights and other school and district gatherings.

The New Jersey Department of Education has cautioned that these numbers are reported by each district, so each jurisdiction is responsible for reporting its results fairly and accurately (but they are required by law to report them). To view how each New Jersey municipality ranked, click here.

With reporting by Tom Davis.