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Local NewsShorewood Teen Dies of Possible OverdoseBy Michael GeorgeSHOREWOOD - Family members think a heroin overdose ended the life of 17-year-old Alex Wajer. He was a student at Shorewood High School. Now, his father says it's time for parents to wake up to a serious problem. Scott Wajer looks at a photo of his son Alex. On the back of the photo, the family printed a letter Alex wrote when he was 11-years-old. It was a promise to never use drugs. His father wishes that promise was kept. "It's just heartbreaking that all these kids are falling into this stuff, and they have no idea what it is and know nothing about it," Scott Wajer said. Alex was a junior at Shorewood High School. He was popular and outgoing, but his father says he was also getting involved with drugs. Wajer knew Alex was smoking pot, but he says he didn't know how serious the problem had become. "I know he did a little bit of drugs, but didn't know he was into this kind of stuff," Wajer said. Alex was found dead in his mother's home earlier this month. Alex's father says he was told a heroin overdose was likely the cause. "I don't want to see other kids and youths get hurt like this anymore. It's ridiculous. There's been how many overdoses up there in the last couple of months?" Wajer said, referring to the neighborhoods of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, and near the UWM campus. Maddie Kiefer and UWM student Luke Murphy are two recent cases of young people dying due to drugs and alcohol. Scott Wajer says the message is clear. "Pay attention to your kids. What else can I say besides: watch them, be with them, and love them? You've only got them for a little while," Wajer said. The official cause of Alex Wajer's death will have to wait until a toxicology report is completed. |
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