Nashville, Tennessee --- Tennessee Highway Patrol D.A.R.E. instructors will teach new curriculum to students at Monteagle Elementary School, Friday, April 18, 2008. The 5th grade students are among the first in the nation to learn about the risks of abusing legal drugs, including prescription medicines, as part of a new D.A.R.E. America curriculum. Statistics show that the abuse of legal drugs is on the rise, in part because of a perception that medicines are safer to abuse than street drugs.

When:       Friday, April 18, 2008
                 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (5th grade class)

Where:      Monteagle Elementary School
                 120 East Main Street, Monteagle, Tennessee

Who:         Trooper Jerry Duncan, D.A.R.E. Instructor, Tennessee Highway Patrol
                 Sgt. Scott Staggs, D.A.R.E. Tennessee Coordinator, Tennessee Highway Patrol
                 Monteagle Elementary School Principal, Janet Layne
                 Sharon Brigner, MS, RN, PhRMA

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Abbott Laboratories and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) all provided funding and expertise to the D.A.R.E. America curriculum. The materials are intended to raise awareness about the dangers of abusing any drug, including legal medicines.

For more information: call Sharon Brigner at 202-835-3489
For more information about D.A.R.E. America, please visit www.dare.com

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.