Pubdate: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 Source: Journal News, The (NY) Copyright: 2006 The Gannett Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.nyjournalnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1205 Author: Diana Bellettieri MAHOPAC TO DISCUSS STUDENTS' RISKY BEHAVIOR MAHOPAC - Saad Abed-El-Latif is a firm believer that a daily dose of family time will keep his two high school children away from drugs and alcohol. That is why the 53-year-old chef and his wife make sure the family gathers around the dinner table each night to discuss the happenings of the day. But at the same time, he also realizes the pressures of the modern world necessitate more aggressive measures. The first Communities That Care Youth Survey of drug and alcohol use in Putnam County has offered a step in that direction. A group of school officials, human service agencies and family advocates administered the survey to more than 5,100 students in grades eight through 12 in spring 2005. The study was designed to assess the risks and protections a student faces in his or her daily life. A risk, for example, is if peers reward delinquent behaviors. A protection is if the family rewards constructive behaviors. The study also tracked the prevalence of drugs and alcohol. The results will be discussed 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Mahopac Public Library. The meeting will focus more specifically on the 1,632 Mahopac students surveyed. "It is shocking," Abed-El-Latif said after recently hearing the results. "Students at this age are not supposed to do this stuff. It will destroy their life." Over the course of their lifetime, the report found that: 72 percent of Putnam County students said they had used alcohol; 71 percent said they had in Mahopac. 38 percent of Putnam County students said they had smoked cigarettes; 38 percent said they had in Mahopac. 33 percent of Putnam County students said they had smoked marijuana; 31 percent said they had in Mahopac. 6 percent or less of Putnam County students said they had used harder drugs - Ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD-psychedelics, heroin; 5 percent or less said they had in Mahopac. Within 30 days of taking the survey, the report found that 44 percent of Putnam County students said they had used alcohol; 42 percent said they had in Mahopac. 16 percent of Putnam County students said they had smoked cigarettes; 18 percent said they had in Mahopac. 19 percent of Putnam County students said they had smoked marijuana; 17 percent said they had in Mahopac. Janeen Cunningham, deputy director of the Putnam County Youth Bureau, said the county hopes to conduct the survey every three years. "We do know that there obviously is drinking and all that going on in the county, but it's nice to have the data," Cunningham said. "It just reassured us that yes, it's happening, now what can we do about it." The next step for the Mahopac school district is to prioritize the risk factors. Among the most alarming findings was that 50 percent of Mahopac students said their parents have "favorable" attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Cunningham said the county would work to form small parent groups to address these attitudes. The Communities That Care Youth Survey results for the Mahopac school district will be discussed at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Mahopac Public Library, 668 Route 6.