Prosecutors Address Area Youth About Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Use, Other Risky Behaviors

It is prom and graduation season, and that means a lot of celebrations will be happening in the next few weeks.

What prom and graduation season should not mean, according to officials with Ocean County Prosecutor's office, is a time for poor decision-making.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Pierro and many other school and local officials attended a school assembly at Jackson Memorial High School today, where the dangers of drug and alcohol use, as well as the importance of avoiding other risky behaviors like speeding while driving were discussed.

"It goes without saying that alcohol and drugs play a part in the number of fatal car accidents. Six to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for drugs and alcohol and even a moderate amount of alcohol impairs your response time," Pierro said.

In addition to car accidents, the drugs themselves are life-threatening.

Fifty-three people died in Ocean County this year due to drug overdoses - which equals the entire number of people that died all of last year from heroin and other drugs, Prosecutor's Office Spokesperson Al Della Fave told reporters after the assembly.

School officials said they felt this was a good time of year - as it is prom and graduation season, as well as the start of college for some students - to address these issues.

Jackson Vice Principal Carl Perino said that educating the student body about making responsible decisions remains a priority for the district, and the assembly the school hosted today is now in its fifth year.

Taylor Szabo, who is the president of Jackson's Students Against Destructive Decisions group, said the assembly hit particularly close to home, as there have been a number of fatal car accidents in the Jackson school district.

"Usually these assemblies are sugar coated, but this was definitely an eye opener," Szabo said. "It was very emotional for me."