Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) is a community-based program which was founded in 2014 in New Jersey. In Sussex County, the sheriff’s office offers the L.E.A.D. program to area youth through the local schools.

The aim of L.E.A.D. is to educate the county’s youth about substance abuse. Its curriculum covers alcohol and drug resistance, violence prevention and anti-bullying. It goes beyond traditional programs, however, as the critical thinking, decisionmaking and interpersonal skills it instills can be used in everyday life.

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Lessons cover issues such as consequences, pressures, ways to say no, effects of the media, stress, alternatives, conflict resolution and improving self-esteem. These lessons, designed around a problem-solving model, offer a variety of interactive, role-playing and cooperative learning activities, all of which serve to empower kids to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in violent activities.

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The sheriff’s office provides L.E.A.D. instruction to the following Sussex County schools:

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• Frankford Township School

• Fredon Township School

• Lafayette Township School

• Marian E. McKeown School

• Montague Township School

• Ogdensburg School

• Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School

• Stillwater Township School

• Sussex Middle School

• Wantage Elementary School

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Are you an educator within Sussex County interested in bringing the L.E.A.D. program to your students? For more information, please contact the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office at 973.579.0850.