Two disturbing news stories have been published recently in the Rapid City Journal.

In one, a Sturgis woman allegedly provided prescription drugs to her son. And what's even more shocking, apparently the young man was to share the drugs with friends.

Unfortunately, it gets worse. Several bottles of cough syrup were allegedly purchased for use at a party. Cough syrup, alcohol and prescription drugs? That's a deadly combination.

The other story ended in tragedy when a young woman died in a one-vehicle accident. In that case, a man has been arrested for providing alcohol to the young woman.

He was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

There are safeguards in place to prevent both of these incidents from taking place at all.

Providing alcohol to minors has no place in this city or state but still takes place despite the best efforts to control it. Cough syrup purchases have been regulated and tracked to combat methamphetamine production.

Even with that in place, young people bent on getting excessive amounts apparently find a way. And prescription drugs? Handing those out defies common sense.

Because we read about these cases and so many others like them, it's obvious that just because laws are on the books to prevent this sort of thing, doesn't mean they will.

Laws provide the foundation for common sense decision-making, but they can't control the choices we make.

Laws can't raise children or protect them from every harmful person or situation. Parents have the ultimate responsibility to raise kids who will question the logic behind a dangerous mix of drugs or make a wrong decision behind the wheel.

In Sturgis, several young people were involved in the party. That says to us peer pressure and the group mentality can trump common sense. We were surprised with so many young people involved, it had gotten as far as it did.

Teaching character and responsibility to children is key to preventing these situations from taking place at all.

Laws, schools and churches provide tools and guidelines to help along the way but those alone can't do the job. Parents are the final piece of the puzzle; and the most important one.