Municipal Alliance Shares Survey About Teen Use of Alcohol and Drugs

The survey shows about 60 percent of juniors and seniors have used alcohol.

About 60 percent of Millburn High School juniors and seniors surveyed admitted to using alcohol in the last six months, and about 40 percent admitted to being drunk. The Millburn Municipal Alliance, commonly known as M-MAC, discussed the results of its surveyof middle and high school students during its combined meeting with the Millburn High School PTO on Thursday morning. The survey is given every two years, and last October's was the ninth edition sponsored by the organization. Of the students surveyed, 57 percent of juniors and 60 percent of seniors admitted to using alcohol within the last six months and 39 percent of juniors and 43 percent of seniors admitted to being drunk during the same time period. "This is a community issue. It'…

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Township Declares Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 23-29 is Red Ribbon Week to remind residents about the dangers of the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Soon red ribbons will be popping up around Millburn-Short Hills to serve as the annual reminder of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse. The Township Committee Tuesday night declared Oct. 23-29 to be Red Ribbon Week. Red ribbons, which were prepared by Millburn Middle School peer leaders and senior citizens, will be hung throughout the township, including at the schools and downtown. "Red Ribbon Week serves as a way for communities, schools, individuals, and families to focus on keeping our children safe through a commitment to drug abuse prevention and education and a commitment to live healthy, drug free lives," said Gail Barry, M-MAC coordinator. M-MAC also plans other ways to educate about drug and alcohol uses and abuses, …

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The Neighborhood Files

Generations Work to Raise Drug and Alcohol Abuse Awareness

The Friday Friends and MMS peer leaders create the red ribbons for the awareness week in October.

There were red ribbons everywhere in the Bauer Center on Friday morning. Ribbons on tables, ribbons on the floor and the completed product of ribbons twisted in a bow piled at one end of the room. M-MAC together with the Friday Friends and the Millburn Middle School REBEL peer leader group were taking the ribbons and folding and twisting them into the bows. The bows will then be hung around town on Oct. 22 in preparations for the annual Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 25-29. Red Ribbon Week is a week to raise awareness of the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol, said Gail Barry, M-MAC coordinator. It's intentions is to remind people of the risks and dangers associated with drugs and alcohol. "We want to remind people to talk to their teens about …

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Parents Learn About Substance Abuse, Internet Safety

Rising 6th graders get a taste of TGIF for the DARE celebration.

Millburn Middle School's cafeteria was packed full of excited fifth graders, getting to experience the tradition of TGIF for the first time.  Upstairs in the auditorium, their parents were sitting through talks by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey and Det. Ed de la Fuente, or Det. Ed as most know him.  M-MAC organized the event to give parents more information about Drug and Alcohol abuse and Internet safety.  According to the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, by the time they have  completed eighth grade, 52 percent of students will have tried alcohol, 25 percent will have tried cigarettes and 17 percent will have tried illicit drugs. According to their research, talking to your child 15 minutes a day about drugs and …

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Red Ribbons Raise Drug Awareness

The red ribbons are part of a campaign to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse.

Red ribbons have popped up throughout town this week, including at each of the township's schools and throughout downtown. It's part of the annual Red Ribbon week, which lasts through the weekend, intended to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse. The Millburn Municipal Alliance Committee created the ribbons in September, which are now hanging throughout down. In addition, the Township Committee issued a proclomation for Red Ribbon Week at its meeting Tuesday night. Students in each of the schools also have been part of assemblies—Tim Moss with "More Power for You!"—about drug and alcohol awareness.

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Raising Alcohol Abuse Awareness

M-MAC is raising the issue this month, but is always tackling the problem of substance abuse

Someone left a crashed car in front of Millburn High School earlier this month. No, it's not an accident that was never cleaned up. It's supposed to serve as a reminder that it's alcohol awareness month and of what can happen when someone drinks and drives. The Millburn Municipal Alliance (M-MAC) has a variety of things planned for the month, but raising awareness of substance abuse is not an unusual task for the organization. The only difference now, especially with issues such as drug-sniffing dogs used at the high school, is that people in the community are talking about the issues, said Gail Barry, M-MAC coordinator. "I don't think things are any worse than they were in previous years or in other towns like ours," she said. "People are…

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Teens Arrested for Alcohol Possession

Police log for March 9

Four teens were arrested Saturday night for allegedly possessing alcohol in Taylor Park. Police said three of the teens ranged from 13 to 15 years old and were from Millburn. The fourth is a 14-year-old Maplewood teen. All were charged with possessing alcholic beverages under the legal age. Because of their age, no other information was provided. Police detained eight juveniles who were in Taylor Park at about 11:05 p.m. The park closes at 10 p.m. Police said officers recovered two containers suspected of containing alcoholic beverages from the group. Short Hills Man Arrested for DWI Police arrested a Short Hills man for driving while intoxicated Wednesday night. David Jong, 33, was charged with driving a vehicle while intoxicated. Police …

Township Committee Takes Up Teen Substance Abuse

Committee members want to discuss what can be done

Township Committee members hope to open a conversation on how to respond to the belief there's an increase in teenage substance abuse in Millburn-Short Hills. Daniel Baer, a committee member, responding to an article in The Item about the issue, said he wanted to open a discussion with school officials and others on how to address a potential substance abuse problem. "It's important tp me that we start an open discussion," he said, saying he has two children. He said he wants to know what are the opportunities provided to teenagers and if enough is being done to keep them engaged and busy, also citing the teen center programs at the Bauer Center. "I don't think we're doing enough as a town," he said. "I don't know the answer, but I think …

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