Seneca’s parent group hosted a drug prevention presentation by Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern NJ on Feb. 12.
“It can be your child, it can be happening in your basement, your schools and your local community.”
Those are the words of Meredith Cohen, director of special projects at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern NJ.
JFCS was invited to Seneca High School on Feb. 12 by Seneca’s parent group to deliver a presentation titled “Right in Our Backyard.”
This program has the goal of raising awareness on the drug epidemic and to prevent drug/overdose related deaths.
Principal Jeff Spector said Seneca has lost nine graduates to drug-related deaths since its opening in 2003.
“We don’t hide the difficulties and challenges of being a young person,” Spector said. “All these young people are confronted with these issues and I’m so proud of this parent group and especially the leaders of it who are not afraid to confront these issues.”
Seneca currently provides two events to students that allow them to participate in safe and fun substance-free activities — one is a post-prom event called Prom House 110 Carranza, and the other is a post-graduation event called Senior Send Off.
The district is planning to extend the “Right in Our Backyard” program to all schools as a way to educate parents and students on the effects of drug use.
Clinical social worker and licenced addictions counselor Elana Dobrowolski said association with drug abusing peers is the most immediate risk factor for adolescents, although there are other factors, including family history and low-self esteem.
Dobrowolski warned parents about the risks of adolescents vaping, stating the adolescent brain becomes addicted more easily, which primes the brain for addiction to other drugs, and vaping products typically include chemicals and heavy metals such as tin, nickel and lead.
She said vaping THC oil can be more dangerous than smoking marijuana, and people often try marijuana before trying other drugs.
In addition, she said people who are addicted to prescription painkillers are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain.
What warning signs can parents look for?
Dobrowolski suggests looking for social and behavioral changes, such as loss of interest in activities, new friends, missing school, grades dropping, fighting with family and more.
State Trooper Tyree Cooper said people should be aware these incidents happen in this community and the number of overdoses has increased.
“The age [of drug use] is getting younger and younger. It’s going from 21 to high school all the way down to middle school now,” Cooper said.
Cooper advised parents to be more cautious of their children’s behavior on a daily basis starting at a young age.
“What I tell the parents is to pay more attention to their daily routines,” Cooper said. “Something changed somewhere.”
Parents with further questions or concerns can contact Seneca Student Assistance Coordinator Lexi Cuneo at acuneo@lrhsd.org.
