On Thursday night, some Valley teens got a scientific look at how alcohol and drugs can affect the brain and other organs.

It's an approach that organizers say has yielded a bigger impact in preventing underage drinking.

The presentation showed how the pleasure-seeking part of the brain develops much sooner than the part of the brain that controls ability to reason.

It also showed the permanent damage that can be caused when young people drink while their brains are still developing

Tonya Osinkosky represents the Strong Families Great Youth Coalition that works in substance abuse prevention.

She says town halls that show scientific reasons young people should stay away from alcohol do a better job at driving home the point.

"Parents think sometimes that their kids are going to drink, and they might as well make it safe by taking away the keys or things like that, and not realizing first off, it's not just the driving. It's the brains development as well," says Osinkosky.

Presenters also say that those who drink alcohol at a young age are more likely to become addicted at some point in their lives.

Dr. Brian Kelly, an associate professor of psychology and a neuroscience adviser at Bridgewater College, studies adolescent brain development and showed students why a brain that's still maturing mixed with alcohol is a cocktail for disaster.

"The brain isn't really fully developed until you're about 21 or older. So there's a 'mish-mash' between the reward system and the sensation seeking part of your development, and the part of your brain that says, this really isn't a good idea lets think this through," says Kelly.

He says this is why most youth drug and drinking problems occur between 14 and 17.