Parents form a group to combat underage drinking

Underage drinking can lead to many tragic events that might otherwise not occur if alcohol were not involved. Many times, teens who consume the substance believe they are sober enough to drive, but these trips often end with an emergency room visit.

As a result of these occurrences, parents in Missoula, Montana have banded together to form a group called Challenge of Choice, the Missoulian reports.

This group formed after a rash of teen deaths due to underage drinking and driving in the area. Thus, parents came together in an effort to educate adolescents about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

"Our goal is to give our children, from grade school to high school, some education and help them see the choices we make, whether they are positive or negative, impact ourselves and the people around as we move forward through life," Darby South, president of the organization, told the news source.

Despite some efforts, parents may wish to enroll their child into a private boarding school to help them overcome the effects associated with drug and alcohol abuse.

According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 22 million Americans aged 12 and older used illicit drugs in the month prior to the survey.