Law enforcement officials teach parents and children about underage drinking

Many individuals during adolescence begin experimenting with different drugs. For instance, alcohol, prescription medication and marijuana are among the most commonly used substances used by teens. As such, underage drinking was showcased at a town hall meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, news station KDLT reports.

Law enforcement officials told the news source that there are many dangers of underage drinking, which include health, performance in school and standing with local police.

"Teens do not realize the affect of alcohol on their body and their decision making and they can get themselves into circumstances that are going to have a lot of consequences to them legally and physically, mentally,” Kim Awadallah, a parent from Sioux Falls, told the news source.

Parents who suspect their child of using alcohol or drugs may want to explore boarding school options. These institutions can help troubled teens overcome their addictions.

According to a 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report nearly 43 percent of high school students used alcohol at least once in their lifetime.