BARNEGAT: Earlier this morning, Staff 11 (Dave M.) heard a call for a suspected overdose at the Brackman Middle School. The call was verified, and it came over as an overdose in the nurses office for a student. It came over as a 13 y/o juvenile, and an unknown substance. Keep in mind an overdose can be as simple as Tylenol, up to the worst street drugs out there. We don’t know what, nor will it be disclosed unless by the school or police.
We didn’t share the post to start trouble and infighting; we shared it as a wake up call. Drugs of all kinds are here in Ocean County, and certainly in our schools. Thankfully the child was transported to SOCH and we pray for a full recovery. Many readers were upset that we shared the call, but NO identifying information was given, nor would we share anything else regarding a juvenile.
Instead of arguing on Facebook, let’s all talk to our children about the dangers of drugs that are HERE in our communities. Let’s take action as education might be our best line of defense. Instead of ignoring the problem, let’s be more pro-active in our children’s lives. Know your kids friends, know what they’re doing, know where they are. It’s impossible to shield our kids from every danger in society, but we need to start somewhere. Open a dialogue tonight, find out what your kids know about drugs. Educate them, separate myth from reality. Tell them people are dying everyday right here throughout the county, and nothing good comes out of drug use.
If you’re upset about reading the information, you might be a part of the problem. This deadly epidemic needs the ears and eyes of everyone in the community if we’re going to help eradicate it. So please; talk to your kids tonight- BE a parent and BE a positive role model. This problem is NOT unique to Barnegat, it’s everywhere. Please don’t keep your heads in the sand.
I saw the fb fighting this morning. Although it’s important to not jump to conclusions on what type of drug/med caused the od, it’s equally as important to acknowledge that this was a 13 y/o who overdosed. It could have been anything from heroin, to cough syrup, to aspirin. The drug of choice doesn’t matter, the person (no matter what age) does. This hits harder because people don’t factor in children doing this.
I hope the kid ends up ok and gets the help he/she needs.
Almost 30 years ago when my daughter was in 8th grade a friend of hers confided one morning in home room that she had deliberately and knowingly taken a dangerous amount of Tylenol. My daughter immediately told the teacher, and the girl was taken by ambulance to the hospital and treated successfully. Kids do impulsive things, and I believe reporting incidents publicly, with identifying information withheld, is one way to raise awareness of parents and children that this really can happen to them or someone they know. I see no downside here, and it could be a good conversation starter with our children or grandchildren about feelings, how to be a true friend, how to ask for help when feeling sad or desperate, etc. I guarantee every kid in that school knew something had happened to one them, and it’s a teachable moment for parents if they know about it.
I’m tired of this kids are dying or oding, nothing was done at all and I go back to 90s …. What are we going to do about this?
Praying for this child.??
Maybe it was an accident.
Could have very well been. Still scary, and a good chance to discuss the dangers of ALL drugs.
Tom Bellas…another
So sad.
Cherie Britton Meara
Bonnie Lynn
What if there were more family-friendly activities in the area? How about some safe places like skate or bike parks for kids to hang out. I feel like we all need to be involved more to make a difference in our children’s lives.
If this turns out to be an innocent accident, then we all learn. Teach kids to never touch medicine without an adult supervising or dosing.
There is a skate park within 1/4 mile of the middle school but I hear what you are saying
There’s plenty of things to do. We didn’t have skate parks close or other things put in to keep us occupied. The main factor is we didn’t have smart phones, social media and other outlets to influence us. We were outside every day. We rode our bikes to the river into the woods. We used to build forts in the woods. We would play catch we’d skateboard around town. We didn’t have the society centered around social media and smart phones. (as I write this on my phone on fb.) lol. Our parents were involved. Everyone’s parents. And if someone had shitty parents or busy parents someone else’s would look out for them and treat them as their own. That included praise and scolding.
It is important to keep our youth busy and involved in our community.
Joe the other problem is schools r let out at 1:30 and in most households both parents work it’s crazy these kids get in slot of trouble
Linda Vizzacchero Arellano yes they should go later and stay later
Anymore info? Was it an accident? Was it narcotic? These days it seems everyone is medicated.
Likely nothing will be released as it concerns the school and family of a child.
They should release that stuff to stop hear say
I agree a statement should be released at least saying the child is okay, and hopefully it was an accident.