LIVERPOOL, N.Y. -- Local students as young as 13- and 14-years-old told their stories of drug and alcohol abuse in a video watched by parents at Liverpool High School. Inside the schools, a dangerous trend is growing that parents know little about.

"We're seeing an increase in prescription drug abuse. And that is something that parents can actually keep an eye on, because where we're seeing, it's coming from is their own homes," said Jack Keller, a State Police Trooper.

Liverpool High School parent Terri Mahler is all too familiar with the trend and she says she sees why it's become so popular with teens like her son.

"Easy to get. You know? Going in people's medicine cabinets. Going into friend's houses, he can go anywhere. He can go to his grandparents, his aunts, uncles, anywhere he goes. And they're always available. And they're free," said Mahler.

While alcohol is still the number one substance abused by teens, prescription drugs are quickly catching up and law enforcement officials tell us that one place the teens are getting them is right here in the hallways of the schools.

"We asked 11th and 12th graders is it easier to find a prescription drug than it is to say, find marijuana or cocaine? And everyone we've talked to said yes. They know who to go to in these schools. Whether it's Liverpool, whether it's C-NS or whether it's Central Square, they know where to go to," said Keller.

"They're selling it in school. We had an issue last year with my son and ended up in the hospital. And things can happen that you're not aware of," said Mahler.

Parents at Thursday night's meeting say everyone needs to ban together and get involved to put an end to this trend.

"This is just as important as soccer and anything else that's going on. These are our kids. They're our children," said Gail Clarke, a Liverpool parent.

Police say parents need to watch out for the warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teens, which include dropping grades, new friends and sleeping more often.