Many are aware that a unique group of educational leaders, parents, community activists and clergy have been meeting regularly to address substance abuse among our kids.

Under the auspices of the Roslyn and East Williston School Districts and with the support of the local religious communities, our coalition has met with substance abuse experts, scientists and law enforcement representatives to study the complex and dangerous influences beckoning our children to drugs and alcohol.

We learned that when children ingest them at young ages drugs and alcohol actually change the brain's capacity to function normally. Students themselves told us that the bar and bat mitzvah parties they attended were their gateway into alcohol use, both because it was readily available and because their parents modeled drunken behavior.

We were also given an education about the so-called alcohol-free clubs in Manhattan where drugs flow freely, sometimes used as weapons to prey on young women. And many parents among us expressed frustration that their children attended parties at friends' homes. The parents were present, and alcohol was served under their noses.

Our study both enlightened us and frightened us. We now understand that we have to change the culture of our community and instill a new ethic, one that considers the use of alcohol and drugs among young people as an anathema and encourages all of us-parents, teachers and clergy---to work together to protect all our children. We do not view this relentless crisis as a "school issue" or a challenge that parents can confront alone.

We all must join forces and insist that we encourage families and students to make safe and healthy choices. It is naïve to believe that children can drink and smoke and drive without horrific consequences. And while we know that there are no foolproof solutions, we intend to do everything within our means to enable our young people to grow and blossom and thrive.

Our group will now focus on creating action plans related to the risk behaviors of our young people. Several task forces are being formed to explore such issues as parent education, creating healthy social contexts for our students, the use and abuse of the Internet, the potential hazards of the Manhattan club scene, the bar/bat mitzvah parties and the Bahamas trip, among others. We look forward to sharing our work with you, and to shaping a new era of responsibility for us all so our children emerge into adulthood safe and whole.

Rabbi Michael A. White,

Temple Sinai of Roslyn;

David Helme,

Interim Superintendent

Roslyn School District;

Carolyn Harris,

Superintendent,

East Williston School District