Student Drug, Alcohol Use Discussed at Lynbrook BOE Meeting

An eye-opening look into the drug and alcohol use of students in the school district and the district superintendent’s report were among the topics covered at the October meeting of the Lynbrook Board of Education.

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation given by Athletic Director Tom Graham and Chairperson of Physical Education Rob Kolb, regarding the results of a survey conducted in December 2010 among 7th through 12th-grade students in the district, focusing on their experience with drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Students who participated were assured of their anonymity, which ensured that their responses would be as honest as possible. This being the case, both Graham and Kolb found the results of the survey troubling, to say the least.

While Lynbrook students were revealed to be at or below Long Island averages in many areas in regards to drug and alcohol abuse, 87.3 percent of the district's 12th graders admitted to having consumed alcohol in their lifetime, and 45 percent have engaged in binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row).

Graham said that the most important thing parents can do to protect their children is to stay involved in their lives, even if it means overstepping boundaries.

"Sometimes kids will press the issue, but we're not their friends -- we're their parents," he said. "If they're going to a party, don't be afraid to walk up to the door when you drop them off and find out who's watching them."

Graham also pointed out that, while underage drinking is an issue in Lynbrook, hard drugs aren't nearly as prevalent.

"Thankfully, we're not seeing heroin, we're not seeing crystal meth," he said. "However, kids are doing marijuana, which is a gateway drug. And the marijuana out there is 10 times more potent than it was 20 years ago."

In an attempt to combat the rise in teen drinking and drug use, the Lynbrook School District had implemented multiple drug and alcohol awareness programs, including informative videos, guest speakers and health classes.

Board of education president Catherine Papandrew said that families and the school district coming together as one is the key to battling teen drug addiction.

"We need to have a positive community collaboration," she said. "More programming in collaboration with community groups at a younger age will be part of stemming this issue before it gets into schools."

District Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino also delivered his monthly report, which concentrated on money woes as they relate to the state-imposed 2-percent tax cap on the upcoming 2012-2013 school budgets and the official release of this year's state test scores to students and their families.

Barbarino also touched on the recent held in Greis Park, which featured a music and art festival courtesy of Lynbrook schools to raise money for the needy of the district.

"I had to leave early due to family issues, but I understand everything went beautifully," he said. "I hear I missed a lot of talent, and I heard it was fantastic."