Prosecutor: 'I'm Coming' for Drugs in Schools

On his 60th day in office as Ocean County's prosecutor, Joseph Coronato made a pledge to high school students: if they're involved with drugs, he will find out. 

"I'm telling you up front, I'm coming," he told Toms River High School North students during an assembly at in the school's auditorium Wednesday. 

Since he took office, each day someone has died in Ocean County from a drug overdose, Coronato said. Of those, 60 percent are between the ages of 20 and 24.

To stop the problem, the prosecutor said that he will take action in Ocean County schools so teenagers don't get involved with drugs in the first place. 

"I'm not going to allow any drugs in school," Coronato said to applause from some students. 

A spike in overdoses prompted officials with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office last month to team up with Atlantic County officials to form a task force to tackle what several law enforcement officials have dubbed a heroin "crisis" in the area.

"It's all over the county. To me, in my opinion, it's a crisis," the prosecutor said. 

A northern and southern task force was established last month to "communicate across the board with surrounding municipalities about where the product is coming into Ocean County from," prosecutor's office spokesman Al Della Fave told Patch. "We are being inundated from the north and south."

"Once the overdoses take place, we are being aggressive in tracing back the victim to a specific dealer and aggressively prosecuting," he said.

High School North Principal Ed Keller said that he welcomes the prosecutor's crackdown on drug use in schools, including the use of drug-sniffing dogs. 

"I like any steps that we're going to take to make our schools safer," he said. 

Coronato, whose children attended High School North, made clear to students several times during his presentation that drugs do not belong in school, and those possessing illegal substances will be found out. 

"I know that drugs are in the bathrooms. Guess what? We're coming. I know that drugs are in the lockers. Guess what? We're coming. I know that drugs are in your backpacks, that drugs are in your desks," Coronato said. 

Students struggling with drug use — which at the high school level is mostly alcohol and marijuana-related — are encouraged to seek help before the problem gets out of hand. Student Assistance Coordinator James Patten said that he works with students confidentially. 

"I don't report it," he said. "There are no consequences for getting help."

It was also made clear that officials want to offer help, not just punish those involved with drugs. Getting help before being charged should appeal to students involved with drugs, since juveniles don't get off with reduced penalties for crimes just because of their age, the prosecutor said. 

"The intent is to get help," Coronato said. 

During his presentation, Coronato showed students photos of how drugs affect users. He told stories about how substance abuse negatively impact lives of local teens and showed a video highlighting the toxic substances — including gasoline — that are used in cocaine production.

"I want you to see what you put in your body," the prosecutor said. 

He also warned of the dangers of underaged "sexting" — sending sexually explicit images through electronic means — since those photos could get teenagers labeled as sex offenders for life. 

Coronato said following his presentation that his talk at High School North was an initial session and he will be traveling to schools throughout Ocean County next school year. He also is establishing a juvenile division at the Prosecutor's Office to combat the problems facing teenagers. 

"You know the drugs out front that say 'drug free school zone?' I want those signs to be accurate," Coronato told students.

"The majority of the school wants a safe place to go," Keller said.