How Many Drug, Alcohol Cases Were Reported In Lawrence Schools

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Lawrence Township Public School District averaged 7.71 substance-abuse cases per 1,000 students for the 2018-19 school year, according to recently released numbers.

New Jersey has released its annual list of substance-abuse cases reported by each school district, revealing the most recent data of reported cases. Lawrence Township ranked 84th in number of cases out of 358 school districts in the state.

It ranked 203rd when it came to increases from last year, with an increase of 0.80 cases, according to the state.

The data, obviously, was compiled before Gov. Phil Murphy shut down school buildings because of the coronavirus crisis, and it's not known what impact the outbreak has had on the substance abuse crisis in schools.

Murphy announced on Wednesday that in-person instruction can return in September, but districts can opt to go fully remote. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: What You Need To Know

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.

To see the full lists, click here.

With reporting by Tom Davis, Patch Staff