Teen Drug Use a 'Problem' in Wayne, Mayor Says

Combating drug use among Wayne teenagers will be the topic of a special community meeting held next month.

Local and county law enforcement and legal personnel will discuss the growing trend of drug abuse among middle- and high-schoolers.

The meeting will be held at Wayne Valley High School from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7.

“We have a problem and we have a problem here in Wayne and it’s time we get together and do something about it,” said Mayor Chris Vergano at a council meeting Wednesday.

Vergano said drug use and become so much more of a problem in town recently that two officers from the police department’s patrol division were reassigned to its narcotics unit because of “all the activity going on with narcotics,” Vergano said.

Personnel from the department’s youth and narcotics bureaus and Wayne school principals will speak about teenage drug use and what parents can do to prevent it.

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes will speak about the reality of drug use in Wayne.

Superior Court Judge Rudolph Filko is also set to speak.

Vergano and Superintendent Ray Gonzalez will send a letter to parents of middle- and high school-age students inviting them to the meeting, Vergano said.

“We ask all of you to please join us,” Vergano said at the meeting. “We’re not sure if this is the answer, but we need to do something.”

Police and educational personnel held a similar meeting on the dangers and growing trend of alcohol abuse among Wayne teenagers. A few dozen parents and students attended that meeting.

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