A beautiful day, great rides and a tent full of values presided over by a hard working committee led by Lois Morelli and Dee Conway added up to a record-breaking day for the SCA Fair.

More than 200 parents and community leaders in attendance at a community-wide forum on April 21, heard the statistics on drug and alcohol use among Manhasset youth, as assessed by a recent survey.

The profile of substance abuse among Manhasset young people was developed in a survey administered last fall to all students in grades four through 12, to parents who attended school open houses, and to staff in grades 4 - 12. Known as the PRIDE Survey, it is part of a national effort coordinated by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE), based in Atlanta. The Manhasset findings were distributed at the April 21 forum in a report called "A Tragedy Happening: An Analysis of the Major Trends of Illegal Substance Use/Abuse by the Young People of Manhasset as Indicated by the PRIDE Survey."

The purpose of the forum was to present the survey results to parents and community leaders and to hear community recommendations for solving problems documented by the survey. These recommendations will be further developed by the Community-wide Task Force on Substance Abuse that compiled Manhasset's PRIDE. The evening was jointly planned by the Task Force and the School Community Association. It is expected to be the first of a series of meetings involving the community.

"This is not just a school problem, not just a family problem, but a community problem," said forum moderator Joan Imhof. She emphasized that students, parents, teachers, police, neighbors, clergy, and business people must assume leadership roles in this issue, not only this evening, but also throughout the years ahead.

Survey results were presented in detail by Manhasset High School Principal Michael Keany.

"In overwhelming numbers, students report the predominant use/abuse of substances happens on weekends, weeknights and outside school hours.

* 70 percent of the parents responded that they recognize the problem in the community, but not with their own children.

* When parents were asked about their own child's substance abuse, their perceptions fell far short of the actual use reported by students. For example, almost 60 percent of seniors reported using alcohol, but less than 20 percent of their parents thought they used it. The survey found that while parents report talking to their kids "often" about substance abuse, middle school and high school students do not feel their parents communicate with them often about the issue. Noting this disparity between perceptions of parents and children, Mr. Keany emphasized the need to critically evaluate assumptions about "what's talk, and what's listening."

* Children who report that their parents "set clear rules" and enforced rules with punishments were twice as likely to remain drug free as those children who "never" had rules.

* Alcohol continues to be the drug of choice, but there is significant use of marijuana and hallucinogens. The response of students who said they had drunk beer at least once increases from 25.7 percent of seventh graders to 78.6 percent of seniors. Those students who responded they they have drunk wine coolers at least once increases from 12.9 percent of seventh graders to a high of 62.5 percent of juniors and down to 51.2 percent of seniors. Students who responded that they have drunk liquor at least once increases from 14.1 percent of seventh graders to 75.2 percent of seniors. Mr. Keany emphasized that the statistics on alcohol use could not be excused as mere 'social drinking.'

* Use of alcohol by Manhasset students exceeds the national figures in grades five, eight, and 10.

* More than one-half (54.2 percent) of students in grades four, five and six reported that they will probably drink beer. 42.5 percent of these same students reported that they will probably drink liquor.

* 55.4 percent of 12th grade students reported that they have used marijuana at least once within the past year.

* 73.5 percent of 11th graders reported that they drank liquor within the past year.

* Of the 63 percent of high school students that drink alcohol, more than 1/2 report they drink to become very high or "bombed."

Noting the high percentage of students who acknowledge drinking to excess, Mr. Keany asked, "Is this a sip of beer at a relative's birthday party? This is not the pattern we seem to be seeing."

Looking at the ages at which children are most likely to abuse substances, Mr. Keany pointed to a dramatic increase in abuse levels at the "exit grades," grades six, eight, and 12.

A panel of community leaders responded to his presentation. They included Manhasset parent Wendy Bennett, Officer John Fitzgerald from the Sixth Precinct POP Squad and Manhasset High School student Kaari Pelzer.

After the panel members spoke, the audience broke into small groups. The brainstorming sessions were led by facilitators, among them high school students who serve as peer educators on the issue of substance abuse and who are members of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

During small group discussions, suggestions were offered including establishing parent networks, to holding more supervised activities for teenagers. Parents were urged to set good examples for their children when they use alcohol and to know what their children are doing. The extensive list of proposals was referred to the Substance Abuse Task Force. For information on future meeting dates, please call 627-4400, ext. 2100.

PRIDE reports are available to parents. Please call the high school office for a complete report of the PRIDE Survey or for an SCA information packet. Community members are urged to become involved.