NJ Data Shows Number Of Drug, Alcohol Cases In Paramus Schools

PARAMUS, NJ — A new report puts numbers to the issue of drug and alcohol usage in New Jersey schools.

Some Bergen County districts had notable increases in substance abuse cases during the past school year, and the numbers show that drugs and alcohol continue to be an issue in New Jersey schools.

The state released its annual list of substance abuse cases reported by each school district, revealing the most recent data of reported cases. This date comes from the 2019-2020 School Performance Reports, which contain a wide variety of information on student demographics.

It includes numbers from the school districts with the highest and lowest number of cases, and the districts who reported the highest increases in cases from 2018-2019 to 2019-2020.

In Paramus, the district reported 1.67 cases per 1,000 students, ranking 228 out of 322 districts. That’s a decrease of -2.23 from 2018-2019, again, per 1,000 students.

"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."

A unique part of this year’s report is the timing, as the data was compiled during a year that was distinctly different because of the coronavirus pandemic. It's not known what kind of impact the crisis has had on substance abuse, but many fewer districts (93) showed increases in 2019-20 than they did the previous year (242).

The state 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.

New Jersey school officials also told Patch that teen vaping has helped drive the numbers up over the past three years since many districts now count e-cigarette use as substance abuse.

Patch compiled the full list of districts in a recent report. See it here: NJ School Districts With Most Drug, Alcohol Cases: New Data 2021

With reporting from Tom Davis.

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