Paramus Among School Districts With The Least Drug And Alcohol Cases, Data Shows

PARAMUS, N.J. — Paramus ranks among the lowest number of substance abuse cases reported during the 2015-16 school year.

The State Department of Education released it most recent substance abuse data on Tuesday.

Paramus had seven reported cases, the 119th most in the state out of 282 districts, where two more than were reported during the 2014-15 school year.

While some city school districts — such as Paterson and Elizabeth — routinely appear at the top of the list, others — such as Toms River — have seen a sharp drop in the reporting of drug and alcohol cases over the years.

Indeed, Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, otherwise known as Mays Landing, (see list below) leads all school districts with the highest decrease in cases between 2014-15 and 2015-16, with 37, followed by Toms River with 34. Those two school years are the two with the most recent data available.

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.

Please note that we did not include school districts that had no reported cases; we also didn't include school districts that had no increase or decrease in cases on the second list.

Here is the list of school districts with the highest to lowest number of cases reported in 2015-16:

1. PATERSON 153
2. ELIZABETH 79
3. JERSEY CITY 71
4. ATLANTIC CITY 52
5. HAMILTON TWP (Mercer County) 48
6. FREEHOLD REGIONAL 48
7. PASSAIC 48
8. WOODBRIDGE TWP 46
9. JACKSON TWP 45
10. TOMS RIVER REGIONAL 43
11. EAST ORANGE 40
12. MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
13. NEWARK CITY 37
14. PLEASANTVILLE 36
15. BLACK HORSE PIKE REGIONAL 34
16. PEMBERTON TWP 33
17. WEST ORANGE 33
18. BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REG 33
19. CHERRY HILL TWP 32
20. VINELAND CITY 29
21. SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD 29
22. CLIFTON CITY 28
23. FRANKLIN TWP 28
24. GREATER EGG HARBOR REG 27
25. LENAPE REGIONAL 27
26. WEST NEW YORK TOWN 27
27. EAST BRUNSWICK TWP 27
28. MIDDLETOWN TWP 26
29. MILLVILLE CITY 25
30. LOWER CAPE MAY REGIONAL 24
31. NORTH BERGEN TWP 23
32. OLD BRIDGE TWP 23
33. FORT LEE BORO 22
34. LINDEN CITY 22
35. TEANECK TWP 21
36. KEARNY 21
37. EGG HARBOR TWP 20
38. MONROE TWP (Gloucester County) 20
39. RED BANK REGIONAL 19
40. MAINLAND REGIONAL 18
41. BURLINGTON CO SPEC SERV 18
42. NORTHERN BURLINGTON REG 18
43. WINSLOW TWP 18
44. NEW BRUNSWICK 18
45. SOUTHERN REGIONAL 18
46. PASSAIC COUNTY VOCATIONAL 18
47. SOMERVILLE 18
48. NORTHERN VALLEY REGIONAL 17
49. HILLSBOROUGH TWP 17
50. BAYONNE 16
51. PERTH AMBOY CITY 16
52. SOUTH BRUNSWICK 16
53. HANOVER PARK REGIONAL 16
54. MORRIS HILLS REGIONAL 16
55. PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS 16
56. WAYNE 16
57. EASTERN CAMDEN COUNTY REG 15
58. CITY OF ORANGE 15
59. HUNTERDON CENTRAL REG 15
60. SAYREVILLE BORO 15
61. LONG BRANCH 15
62. ROXBURY TWP 15
63. WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL 15
64. UNION TWP 15
65. MAHWAH 14
66. RIDGEFIELD PARK 14
67. PISCATAWAY TWP 14
68. BERNARDS 14
69. ATLANTIC CO VOCATIONAL 13
70. HACKENSACK 13
71. BURLINGTON CITY 13
72. CUMBERLAND REGIONAL 13
73. BARNEGAT 13
74. LAKEWOOD13
75. LAKELAND REGIONAL 13
76. NORTH PLAINFIELD13
77. RAMAPO-INDIAN HILL REG 12
78. BORDENTOWN REGIONAL 12
79. EWING TWP5 12
80. TRENTON12
81. KEANSBURG 12
82. NEPTUNE TWP 12
83. SEA GIRT 12
84. LEONIA11
85. BOONTON8 11
86. UNION CO ED SERV COMM11
87. ENGLEWOOD 10
88. RAMSEY 10
89. WESTWOOD REGIONAL 10
90. BURLINGTON CO VOCATIONAL 10
91. N HUNT/VOORHEES REGIONAL 10
92. NORTH BRUNSWICK 10
93. SOUTH PLAINFIELD 10
94. BRICK TWP 10
95. HILLSIDE TWP 10
96. RANCOCAS VALLEY REGIONAL 9
97. CAMDEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 9
98. HADDON HEIGHTS 9
99. ESSEX CO VOC-TECH 9
100. LIVINGSTON 9
101. WEST ESSEX REGIONAL 9
102. DELSEA REGIONAL H.S DIST. 9
103. EDISON TWP 9
104. SPOTSWOOD 9
105. OCEAN TWP4 9
106. JEFFERSON TWP 9
107. SPARTA TWP 9
108. SUMMIT CITY 9
109. HAMMONTON0 8
110. RIDGEFIELD BORO 8
111. BELLEVILLE TOWN 8
112. CLEARVIEW REGIONAL 8
113. KINGSWAY REGIONAL 8
114. W WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO REG 8
115. SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS 8
116. WEST MILFORD 8
117. HIGH POINT REGIONAL 8
118. BERGENFIELD 7
119. PARAMUS BORO 7
120. MAPLE SHADE TWP 7
121. STERLING HIGH SCHOOL DIST 7
122. EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL 7
123. HOPEWELL VALLEY REGIONAL 7
124. MIDDLESEX CO VOCATIONAL 7
125. ASBURY PARK 7
126. WALL TWP 7
127. WEST MORRIS REGIONAL 7
128. OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
129. SALEM CO SPECIAL SERVICE 7
130. NEWTON 7
131. RAHWAY 7
132. PHILLIPSBURG 7
133. BERGEN CO SPECIAL SERVICE 6
134. NORTHERN HIGHLANDS REG 6
135. PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL 6
136. RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE 6
137. SADDLE BROOK 6
138. LINDENWOLD 6
139. PENNSAUKEN 6
140. MONTCLAIR 6
141. CARTERET 6
142. HAZLET 6
143. MANASQUAN 6
144. UPPER FREEHOLD REGIONAL8 6
145. MADISON 6
146. MONTVILLE 6
147. PINELANDS REGIONAL 6
148. PITTSGROVE TWP 6
149. BOUND BROOK 6
150. BUENA REGIONAL 5
151. CAPE MAY CO VOCATIONAL 5
152. MIDDLE TWP1 5
153. GATEWAY REGIONAL 5
154. HARRISON0 5
155. SECAUCUS 5
156. HOWELL TWP 5
157. LACEY4 5
158. MANCHESTER 5
159. WESTFIELD 5
160. HACKETTSTOWN 1,922 4 1 0 5 12 22 5
161. BERGEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 4
162. DUMONT5 4
163. MIDLAND PARK 4
164. NORTH ARLINGTON 4
165. RUTHERFORD 4
166. WOOD-RIDGE 4
167. FLORENCE TWP 4
168. PINE HILL 4
169. CAPE MAY CO SPECIAL SERV 4
170. OCEAN CITY 4
171. BRIDGETON 4
172. DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL 4
173. SOUTH HUNTERDON REGIONAL 4
174. LAWRENCE TWP 4
175. ROBBINSVILLE 4
176. HIGHLAND PARK 4
177. METUCHEN 4
178. MIDDLESEX BORO 4
179. MONROE TWP 4
180. HOLMDEL3 4
181. MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL2 4
182. MONMOUTH CO VOCATIONAL 4
183. BUTLER 4
184. DOVER 4
185. PEQUANNOCK6 4
186. POINT PLEASANT BEACH 4
187. RINGWOOD BORO 4
188. SOMERSET HILLS REGIONAL 4
189. WALLKILL VALLEY REGIONAL 4
190. CLARK TWP 4
191. SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG2 4
192. NORTH WARREN REGIONAL 4
193. HAMILTON TWP (Atlantic County) 3
194. CARLSTADT-EAST RUTHERFORD 3
195. CLIFFSIDE PARK BORO 3
196. ELMWOOD PARK 3
197. DELRAN TWP 3
198. PALMYRA 3
199. WILLINGBORO TWP 3
200. AUDUBON 3
201. COLLINGSWOOD 3
202. GLOUCESTER CITY 3
203. WILDWOOD 3
204. FAIRFIELD 3
205. IRVINGTON 3
206. VERONA 3
207. HOBOKEN 3
208. MERCER COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
209. KINNELON 3
210. CENTRAL REGIONAL 3
211. PLUMSTED TWP 3
212. STAFFORD TWP 3
213. SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
214. WOODSTOWN-PILESGROVE REG 3
215. SUSSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
216. UNION COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
217. BELVIDERE 3
218. GALLOWAY TWP 2
219. HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 2
220. PARK RIDGE 2
221. TENAFLY 2
222. BURLINGTON TWP 2
223. CINNAMINSON TWP 2
224. RIVERSIDE TWP 2
225. GLOUCESTER TWP 2
226. COMMERCIAL TWP 2
227. BLOOMFIELD 2
228. CALDWELL-WEST CALDWELL 2
229. MILLBURN 2
230. NUTLEY 2
231. CLAYTON 2
232. PAULSBORO 2
233. HUDSON COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
234. UNION CITY 2
235. HUNTERDON CO ED SER COMM 2
236. SOUTH AMBOY 2
237. SOUTH RIVER 2
238. KEYPORT 2
239. MONMOUTH REGIONAL 2
240. MORRIS COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
241. MOUNT OLIVE 2
242. PASSAIC VALLEY REGIONAL 2
243. HOPATCONG 2
244. LENAPE VALLEY REGIONAL 2
245. ROSELLE 2
246. WARREN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
247. EGG HARBOR 1
248. SOMERS POINT 1
249. BOGOTA 1
250. GARFIELD 1
251. GLEN ROCK 1
252. LODI 1
253. NEW MILFORD 1
254. PALISADES PARK 1
255. WALDWICK 1
256. WALLINGTON 1
257. EVESHAM TWP 1
258. WESTAMPTON 1
259. CAMDEN 1
260. HADDON TWP 1
261. ESSEX CO ED SERV COMM 1
262. GLOUCESTER CO SPEC SERV 1
263. PITMAN 1
264. WENONAH 1
265. WEST DEPTFORD TWP 1
266. TEWKSBURY TWP 1
267. PRINCETON REGIONAL 1
268. MIDDLESEX CO REG SER COMM 1
269. FREEHOLD TWP 1
270. HENRY HUDSON REGIONAL 1
271. NEPTUNE CITY 1
272. MOUNTAIN LAKES 1
273. POINT PLEASANT BORO 1
274. HAWTHORNE 1
275. PASSAIC CO MANCHESTER REG 1
276. POMPTON LAKES 1
277. QUINTON TWP 1
278. MANVILLE 1
279. SOMERSET CO ED SERV COMM 1
280. VERNON 1
281. KENILWORTH 1
282. PLAINFIELD CITY 1

Correction: Swedesboro-Woolwich had no substance abuse cases during the time period.

Here are the school districts with the highest increases — and biggest reductions — in substance abuse cases from 2014-15 to 2015-16:

1. PATERSON 50
2. HAMILTON TWP 45
3. MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 23
4. NEWARK 23
5. BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REG 19
6. FORT LEE 19
7. PEMBERTON TWP 17
8. WINSLOW TWP 15
9. JACKSON TWP 14
10. EAST BRUNSWICK 13
11. LINDEN CITY 13
12. MILLVILLE 13
13. ROXBURY TWP 13
14. BAYONNE 12
15. PLEASANTVILLE 12
16. SEA GIRT 12
17. BOONTON 11
18. BORDENTOWN REGIONAL 11
19. BURLINGTON CITY 11
20. EASTERN CAMDEN COUNTY REG 11
21. WAYNE 11
22. CITY OF ORANGE 10
23. HILLSBOROUGH 10
24. VINELAND 10
25. BLACK HORSE PIKE REGIONAL 9
26. EGG HARBOR TWP 9
27. FRANKLIN TWP 9
28. HANOVER PARK REGIONAL 9
29. MAINLAND REGIONAL 9
30. RIDGEFIELD PARK 9
31. HILLSIDE 8
32. MONROE TWP 8
33. RED BANK REGIONAL 8
34. RIDGEFIELD 8
35. CHERRY HILL 7
36. KEANSBURG 7
37. MIDDLETOWN 7
38. NEW BRUNSWICK 7
39. OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
40. PASSAIC COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
41. TEANECK 7
42. WESTWOOD REGIONAL 7
43. WOODBRIDGE 7
44. BELLEVILLE 6
45. HADDON HEIGHTS BORO 6
46. HAZLET TWP 6
47. LAKELAND REGIONAL 6
48. SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL 6
49. WEST NEW YORK 6
50. MAPLE SHADE TWP 5
51. MONTVILLE 5
52. NEWTON 5
53. SADDLE BROOK 5
54. SOMERVILLE 5
55. ASBURY PARK 4
56. BOUND BROOK 4
57. HOWELL 4
58. PISCATAWAY 4
59. RAHWAY CITY 4
60. RINGWOOD 4
61. SOUTH PLAINFIELD 4
62. STERLING HIGH SCHOOL DIST 4
63. WEST ESSEX REGIONAL 4
64. WEST ORANGE 4
65. WOOD-RIDGE 4
66. BERGENFIELD 3
67. DELSEA REGIONAL H.S DIST. 3
68. DUMONT 3
69. HIGHLAND PARK 3
70. HOPEWELL VALLEY REGIONAL 3
71. LIVINGSTON 3
72. MIDDLESEX BORO 3
73. MONMOUTH CO VOCATIONAL 3
74. MORRIS HILLS REGIONAL 3
75. NORTH ARLINGTON BORO 3
76. NORTH PLAINFIELD 3
77. NORTHERN BURLINGTON REG 3
78. PITTSGROVE TWP 3
79. ROBBINSVILLE TWP 3
80. SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD 3
81. STAFFORD TWP 3
82. SUSSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
83. UNION TWP 3
84. CAPE MAY CO VOCATIONAL 2
85. CLIFFSIDE PARK 2
86. DOVER 2
87. FAIRFIELD 2
88. GALLOWAY TWP 2
89. GATEWAY REGIONAL 2
90. HAMMONTON 2
91. HOPATCONG 2
92. IRVINGTON 2
93. MANCHESTER TWP 2
94. OLD BRIDGE TWP 2
95. PARAMUS 2
96. PARK RIDGE 2
97. PAULSBORO 2
98. POINT PLEASANT BEACH 2
99. SOMERSET HILLS REGIONAL 2
100. SOUTH AMBOY CITY 2
101. SOUTH BRUNSWICK 2
102. UNION COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
103. WARREN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
104. WEST MORRIS REGIONAL 2
105. ATLANTIC CITY 1
106. BELVIDERE 1
107. BERNARDS TWP 1
108. BRIDGETON 1
109. BURLINGTON TWP 1
110. CAPE MAY CO SPECIAL SERV 1
111. CARTERET 1
112. CLARK 1
113. EGG HARBOR CITY 1
114. EVESHAM TWP 1
115. HARRISON 1
116. HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 1
117. HOLMDEL 1
118. JEFFERSON TWP 1
119. KEARNY 1
120. KINGSWAY REGIONAL 1
121. LODI 1
122. MADISON 1
123. MERCER COUNTY VOCATIONAL 1
124. MIDLAND PARK 1
125. NEPTUNE CITY 1
126. NEW MILFORD 1
127. NORTH WARREN REGIONAL 1
128. PITMAN 1
129. QUINTON TWP 1
130. RUTHERFORD BORO 1
131. SOMERS POINT 1
132. SOUTH HUNTERDON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 1
133. SOUTHERN REGIONAL 1
134. SUMMIT CITY 1
135. TEWKSBURY TWP 1
136. WESTAMPTON 1
137. ALLAMUCHY TWP -1
138. ATLANTIC CO VOCATIONAL -1
139. BOGOTA -1
140. BRIGANTINE -1
141. BUENA REGIONAL -1
142. COLLINGSWOOD -1
143. DEPTFORD TWP -1
144. DUNELLEN -1
145. ESTELL MANOR -1
146. FLEMINGTON-RARITAN REG -1
147. FREEHOLD BORO -1
148. FREEHOLD REGIONAL -1
149. GLEN RIDGE -1
150. GLOUCESTER CO SPEC SERV -1
151. GLOUCESTER TWP -1
152. HACKENSACK -1
153. HANOVER TWP -1
154. HOBOKEN -1
155. KENILWORTH -1
156. KINNELON -1
157. LENAPE VALLEY REGIONAL -1
158. MIDDLESEX CO REG SER COMM -1
159. MOONACHIE BORO -1
160. NEW HANOVER TWP -1
161. NORTHERN HIGHLANDS REG -1
162. PASSAIC -1
163. PASSAIC CO ED SERV COMM -1
164. PENNSAUKEN -1
165. PLAINFIELD -1
166. SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG -1
167. SOUTH BOUND BROOK -1
168. SPARTA -1
169. VERNON TWP -1
170. VERONA -1
171. WALLKILL VALLEY REGIONAL -1
172. WEST LONG BRANCH -1
173. WESTFIELD -1
174. BERGEN CO SPECIAL SERVICE -2
175. CEDAR GROVE -2
176. DELRAN -2
177. ESSEX CO ED SERV COMM -2
178. LONG BRANCH -2
179. METUCHEN -2
180. MONMOUTH REGIONAL -2
181. NEW PROVIDENCE -2
182. PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL -2
183. PEQUANNOCK -2
184. PLUMSTED TWP -2
185. RAMSEY -2
186. RIDGEWOOD -2
187. RIVERSIDE TWP -2
188. ROSELLE PARK -2
189. SOUTHAMPTON TWP -2
190. UNION CO ED SERV COMM -2
191. UPPER DEERFIELD TWP -2
192. WALL TWP -2
193. BURLINGTON CO VOCATIONAL -3
194. CENTRAL REGIONAL -3
195. CLAYTON -3
196. CRANFORD -3
197. EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL -3
198. GLEN ROCK -3
199. GLOUCESTER CITY -3
200. HENRY HUDSON REGIONAL -3
201. HUNTERDON CENTRAL REG -3
202. KITTATINNY REGIONAL -3
203. LACEY TWP -3
204. MAHWAH -3
205. MANVILLE -3
206. MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL -3
207. MILLBURN -3
208. MORRIS COUNTY VOCATIONAL -3
209. NORTH BERGEN -3
210. NORTHERN VALLEY REGIONAL -3
211. PENNS GRV-CARNEYS PT REG -3
212. PENNSVILLE -3
213. PINELANDS REGIONAL -3
214. SAYREVILLE -3
215. WILDWOOD -3
216. WOODBURY -3
217. BLOOMFIELD -4
218. LAKEWOOD -4
219. MONMOUTH-OCEAN ED SER COM -4
220. MONTGOMERY TWP -4
221. MOORESTOWN -4
222. OCEAN TWP 13 -4
223. PRINCETON -4
224. RED BANK -4
225. RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REG -4
226. RUNNEMEDE -4
227. SOUTH RIVER -4
228. SPRINGFIELD TWP -4
229. TENAFLY -4
230. BERGEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL -5
231. CINNAMINSON -5
232. EWING TWP -5
233. FLORENCE TWP -5
234. GARFIELD -5
235. GLOUCESTER CO VOCATIONAL -5
236. HACKETTSTOWN -5
237. HADDON TWP -5
238. NUTLEY -5
239. OCEAN CITY -5
240. PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS -5
241. PERTH AMBOY -5
242. RAMAPO-INDIAN HILL REG -5
243. SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS 13 -5
244. UPPER FREEHOLD REGIONAL 11 -5
245. WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL 20 -5
246. WOODSTOWN-PILESGROVE REG (5910)8 -5
247. HAWTHORNE 7 -6
248. N HUNT/VOORHEES REGIONAL 16 -6
249. PASSAIC CO MANCHESTER REG 7 -6
250. ROSELLE 8 -6
251. UNION CITY (5240)8 -6
252. AUDUBON 10 -7
253. BUTLER 11 -7
254. MONTCLAIR TOWN 13 -7
255. RANDOLPH TWP 7 -7
256. WILLINGBORO TWP 10 -7
257. GLASSBORO 8 -8
258. LEONIA 19 -8
259. LINDENWOLD BORO 14 -8
260. MANASQUAN 14 -8
261. MOUNT OLIVE TWP 10 -8
262. PINE HILL 12 -8
263. SHORE REGIONAL 8 -8
264. PALMYRA 12 -9
265. RANCOCAS VALLEY REGIONAL -9
266. SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL -9
267. W WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO REG -9
268. WARREN HILLS REGIONAL -9
269. CLEARVIEW REGIONAL -10
270. HIGH POINT REGIONAL -10
271. LAWRENCE TWP -10
272. WASHINGTON TWP -10
273. BURLINGTON CO SPEC SERV -11
274. CUMBERLAND REGIONAL -11
275. ELMWOOD PARK -11
276. WEST MILFORD -11
277. CAMDEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL -12
278. ELIZABETH -12
279. LENAPE REGIONAL -12
280. LOWER CAPE MAY REGIONAL -12
281. EAST ORANGE -14
282. BRICK -17
283. CLIFTON -23
284. MIDDLE TWP -23
285. JERSEY CITY -25
286. PHILLIPSBURG -27
287. TOMS RIVER REGIONAL -34
288. HAMILTON TWP -37

Reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

Patch file photo