Bergen Schools Hosting Forum On Teen Heroin Abuse
CRESSKILL, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- As teen heroin use continues to grow, some Bergen County schools are taking a different approach to fighting the epidemic.
The Cresskill Middle/High School Home and Social Association, in partnership with Dumont and Tenafly high schools, is bringing together police and mental health workers for a forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Merritt Memorial Elementary School in Cresskill, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.
Cresskill School Superintendent Michael Burke said technology has, in part, contributed to the problem.
"The kids can access the drugs easier, connections online, text messaging -- someone always knows someone unfortunately," he said.
Burke had a message for parents: "Remember how important it is to build a strong relationship with their child because the parents know their children the best."
Roxanne Davis will speak at the forum. Her son, Gabriel, a Cresskill High School graduate, died at 23 when he accidentally overdosed on a potent painkiller while going through a bad breakup.
"We need to get to the root of the problem," Davis said. "The root is not the drug. The root is what got them to go to the drug. And get to them before the drug becomes the problem.
"I don't think we're equipping our kids with proper coping skills to deal with any kind of a major stresser."