DECATUR - One in five teens is still drinking and driving, and one in nearly eight teens is still using marijuana and driving, according to the seventh annual "Teens Today" study recently released by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions, or SADD.

But parents who set clear consequences and follow through on them significantly reduce the likelihood that their teens will engage in these and other unsafe behaviors behind the wheel.

In the midst of celebrating its 25th anniversary this week, SADD, which started as Students Against Driving Drunk, has found that it is still fighting many of the same problems it battled 25 years ago.

"We're not really surprised by the findings, but we look at different influences each year, factors as to why teens are engaging in some of the destructive behavior that they are," said Stephen Wallace, chairman and CEO of SADD. "The results really help to shed light on old problems and new light on new problems."

Wallace said SADD found it encouraging that parental involvement has an impact on the types of decisions that teens make. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens, more than drugs, guns or any disease combined.

"We use the findings in many different ways," he said. "We communicate the information to young people and their families that it is important to them and will keep their kids safe."

While many parents are ignoring impaired driving, too many teens believe that "drugging and driving," or driving under the influence of marijuana or other drugs, is not risky behavior, Wallace said.

"Many parents don't see drinking and driving as a big problem; they take on a "been there, done that" mentality when it comes to the issue of impaired driving, and that's a dangerous thing," he said. "And almost nobody is talking about drugging and driving. Teens are under the impression that drugging and driving is not dangerous. Of course, we know they're wrong; it results in crashes and losses of life."

And while SADD continues to celebrate success in educating teens about destructive behaviors over the years, the organization also believes that raising family awareness is important as well.

"The overall message is that parents can play an increasingly powerful role in guiding their kids' choices," he said. "Take responsibility; set consequences and enforce consequences."

Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.