Juvenile crime on the rise in Millstone Township Drug Alliance correlates rise to population increase BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer MILLSTONE - Juvenile arrests and alcohol- and drug-related offenses have been on the rise in the township over the last five years. Helen Varvi, longtime chairwoman of the township's Alliance to Prevent Alcoholismand DrugAbuse, gave the Township Committee a report her group compiled that identifies risks and protections for Millstone youth. Commonly known as the Drug Alliance, the group provides preventative education and activities to young people. According to the report, there were five juvenile arrests in 2002 and four in 2003. The number jumped to 21 in 2005 and included incidents of burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, malicious mischief, and larceny/theft. In 2006, there were 26 juvenile arrests for burglary, larceny/theft, assault and fraud. Township admissions to Monmouth County's Youth Detention Center also increased from none in 2002 to three in 2006. Varvi attributed some of the increase in arrests to the township's population growth. There has been a 12.2 percent growth in the population over the past seven years, according to the report. The report states that the increase in alcohol- and drug-related offenses indicate an increase in specific drug behaviors and associated criminal offenses. Juvenile crime statistics indicate criminal behavior in individuals as young as 10 years old and peaking at ages 15-16, according to the report. The report cites protective factors as Millstone students having above average state test scores and other academic measures, including graduation rates. "Solid economic family situations exist for the majority of Millstone youth, resulting in financial support for higher education, positive rolemodels in the formof parents achieving economic success and high employment rates existing for youth in Millstone," the report states. The report cautioned that some of the positives can also be seen as negatives. "Our youth have the money and means of transportation to travel to areas where alcohol and drugs are readily available," the report states. "Despite having all of the material things that a high income level can bring, youth report being bored with nothing to do." The report noted that while there are laws against alcohol being served tominors on private property and against public alcohol consumption and smoking in parks, the norms in the community are favorable to alcohol, tobacco or drug use. Norms listed in the report include serving alcohol to minors at parties, selling tobacco products to minors, using alcohol as a rite of passage and allowing minors to consume alcohol when car keys are taken away. "The increase in population contributes to less of a feeling of community where people knew each other and looked out for one another's children," the report states. "This increase in population has brought an increase in family income, so our children have the money and means to get alcohol and drugs." The report states that alliance members and school officials believe that alcohol and prescription drugs may be readily available in local homes,many of which are unsupervised between 3-7 p.m. The report states that the township averaged 23 domestic violence incidents per year from 1996-2001. Such incidents have since declined, with 19 in 2005 and eight in 2006. However, the group noted that the rural nature of the community may contribute to such incidents being under-reported. The New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Addiction Services reported that Millstone has twice the county rate of admissions for alcohol treatment, according to the report. Admissions increased fromthree in 2005 to eight in 2006.WhereasMillstone's average for alcohol admissions is 61.5 percent, the county average is 36.5 percent. The alliance members consider the admission rate "surprisingly high" and noted admissions were likely under-reported due to income levels, employment benefits and private or out-of-county treatment. "There is significant use of alcohol in homes and there are a small number of parents who use drugs with or in front of their children," the report states. Varvi said she hoped the Township Committee would review the report and come to her with any questions. "We're a group of four or five people and have been doing this for a very long time," she said. "For most on the committee, our kids are grown but we feel a commitment to it. We'd love to have new members and ideas in the group." Current alliance members are Varvi, Susan Cerulo, Frank LaMagna, Cory Wingerter and Cynthia Lischick. Committeeman Elias Abilheira is the liaison from the Township Committee. Abilheira praised Varvi and the Drug Alliance for the work they have done. "The core group are fantastic workers in their dedication to the community," he said. Abilheira also listed some of the events the Drug Alliance holds for area youth including the Chess Fest, Fishing Derby, and public forums shown on the PEG channel. Varvi said the Drug Alliance received its first grant in 1990 and has consistently received grants ranging from $10,000 to $18,000 for the past 18 years. "The Township Committee has always been very supportive of signing off on grants we've written," she said. "I hear stories from other communities that do not have the support Millstone does." TheAlliance to PreventAlcoholismand Drug Abuse meets in the meeting room at 215Millstone Road on the thirdMonday of each month at 8 p.m.