Underage drinking is a problem nationwide and Nebraska is no exception. More than 4,300 teens are killed in alcohol related crashes every year, and a new trend toward excessive drinking is making the situation worse. Several local agencies are working to deter teens from using alcohol.

Patty Spady, who lost her daughter to acute alcohol poisoning in 2004, spoke to UNO students Thursday. "What happened to Sam, is she drank too much and she drank too fast.”

Spady is hoping to deter binge drinking, and says it has become excessive on campuses everywhere. Students say it's no different in Nebraska.

"When you get into that situation and everyone's trying to egg you on, and wants you to drink more and get more drunk." Tim Kucera is a Junior at UNO.

Tracy Hamann, also a Junior, says she tries to avoid peer pressure. "So I think the biggest thing is just to be smart about it and while everyone might be drinking, you can go and hang out and not drink."

Most importantly, no one who’s been drinking should get behind the wheel. The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety just set up a tip line that anyone can call to report underage drinking or drunk driving. The number is 1-866-MUST B 21.

Rose White with AAA says the caller can simply key in the zip code area, and then they'll be given options on what police departments or sheriffs agencies serve that particular area.

She says 4,300 teens die every year from alcohol-related crashes. "Tracking will actually be done where we'll be able to see where the calls are coming from and if there are particular problems within the counties, it might mean that we need to increase our education efforts within those particular counties," says White.

By preventing more teens from drinking, Patty Spady hopes no other parent will suffer her loss.