ATLANTA (March 4, 2008) – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and State Farm® are educating elementary students about the dangers of underage alcohol use – the number one youth drug problem – by introducing Protecting You/Protecting Me®(PY/PM) to Georgia schools. State Farm has donated the curriculum, training and materials to five FCCLA-affiliated high schools. High school students enrolled in this service-learning program will in turn teach PY/PM’s life-saving curriculum to five elementary schools.

“Protecting You/Protecting Me teaches grade school children about the harmful effects of alcohol before they face their first decision to drink it around age 12,” said Glynn Birch, MADD national president. “Studies show that the human brain does not finish developing until a person is at least in their early 20s. The earlier we empower kids to make safe, healthy, legal choices, the better the chance they will wait until 21 to drink alcohol. Youth who have their first drink before the age of 19 are significantly more likely to become alcohol dependent and to drive after drinking than those who did not drink before age 19.”

Created in 1998, PY/PM earned the designation of Model Program by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Studies of the PY/PM curriculum have shown the program has a positive effect not only on the elementary school students, but on the high school student teachers as well. Elementary students increased their knowledge of brain development, improved their vehicle safety skills and developed a better understanding of the harmful effects of alcohol. The high school student teachers demonstrated a reduction in alcohol-related behaviors, showed an increased understanding of the harmful effects of alcohol and were more likely to practice vehicle safety.

“State Farm is proud to team up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to bring the Protecting You/Protecting Me program to Atlanta,” said State Farm Section Manager and Atlanta MADD board member Cherri Williams. “As a leader in auto safety and strong supporter of education, State Farm knows that the Protecting You/Protecting Me program will be a valuable asset to the Atlanta community.”

PY/PM is the only program of its kind that uses trained high school students to teach elementary children the ABC’s of alcohol: Alcohol’s effects, Brain development and Car safety, including how to stay safe if riding with an alcohol-impaired driver. Research shows that teenagers can have a positive impact on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of children and that children have a tendency to look up to older youth. As a result, teens themselves learn to be role models, listen to their own advice and make more responsible choices.

A full multimedia news release is available at http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/MADD/31793/.  

About MADD 
Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501c(3) non-profit, grassroots organization with approximately 400 affiliates and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. For more information, please visit www.madd.org or call (800) GET-MADD. 

About State Farm 
State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 76 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

For more information visit www.madd.org, www.pypm.org and www.statefarm.com.

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