CARMEL-Calling alcohol and drug abuse "very real problems" among the county's youth, a task force initiated by County Executive Robert Bondi met Monday to develop strategies while increasing awareness of the scourge that is slowly enveloping Putnam's population. County officials were joined by school personnel, businessmen and members of the media who called for dramatic changes in today's culture relating to alcohol and drug use and abuse. Bondi thanked the two dozen men and women for attending. He told the Putnam County Courier: "So far Putnam has been spared many of the terrible effects of the scourge of substance abuse that have afflicted the entire New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region. Unfortunately, the trends indicate that it's headed our way like an out-of-control freight train. Unless we take every step now, the 6 o'clock news reports that we hear every evening in New York City about tragedies in the Big Apple, Long Island and Westchester, these events will begin developing in our county claiming a terrible number of innocent lives in their wake." For nearly two hours, the group brainstormed in the hope of reaching families to halt the tide of substance abuse. Deputy County Executive Frank DelCampo, who chaired the meeting, asked, "Who ever thought that smoking in restaurants and public places would be banned? Similarly, we know that alcohol and substance abuse must be outlawed. Our charge is to strategize an awareness." DelCampo said the task force was not telling parents "how to be parents. Parents must set a good example." Putnam Youth Bureau Director Joseph DeMarzo called on residents to "come together as a community to make cultural change." Dr. Nathan Liebowitz, director of the National Council on Alcoholism-Putnam, suggested that Putnam follow the lead of nearby Rockland County that recently formed an Alliance for Prevention. "This alliance is the coalition of coalitions. Its task is to bring all interested parties together. Parents, children, libraries, schools, churches, synagogues and business folks must become involved in seriously developing a plan to address the use of both legal and illegal drugs. Normative changes are needed here. Drug use is not a problem indigenous to Rockland County. It is a national problem that must be treated locally," he said. Chris Cassone of Kent, a recovered alcoholic who heads up the Sober Teens festival that's scheduled for Oct. 16 this year, told the group gathered at Arms Acres, "We live in a drinking world. Substance abuse is not a kid's thing. It reaches all levels of society." Theresa Giovanniello, chief of staff for the county executive, said parents sometimes send the wrong message by offering a young person a beer or glass of wine at home. "It's not OK for teens to drink. We must all promote alcohol-free events," she said. DeMarzo reminded the group that children emulate their parents' actions. "If mom and dad are sending a message or taking the message of alcohol and substance abuse not seriously, then their children are going to feel that they don't need to become responsible. For any change to occur, people must take responsibility for their actions. Such accountability starts at home."