![Working together at the conclusion for the drug education program for the 2015-16 school year are: Front Row: Zackary Taylor (left), Kaylee Hensley, Cole Mattox and Alysha Hanna. Middle Row: Dayna Morgan (left), Carlos Kanafaney, Mary Page Nemcik, director of marketing for Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy and John Ferens, 7th grade health teacher. Back Row: Andrew Cochran, 7th grade health teacher at EGMS (left), Jason Conaway, 7th grade principal at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School, Blaine Yates, Lillie King and program instructor Lt. Jeromy Dove with the Lewisburg Police Department.](https://mountainmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2016/04/DARE-at-EGMS-300x225.jpg)
For the 10th year, Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy and the Lewisburg Police Department conducted a Prescription and Drug Abuse Awareness program in partnership with Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (EGMS). The program curriculum is classroom-based and designed to help educate seventh grade students about the facts and dangers regarding the misuse of prescription drugs, OTC medications and other drugs of abuse.
“According to the National Institutes of Health, more young people age 12-17 are now abusing prescription drugs than all other illicit drugs combined, with the exception of marijuana. Four out of 10 teens believe that prescription medicines are much safer to abuse than illicit drugs, even if they are not prescribed to them for medical reasons,” said Lt. Jeromy Dove, community educator and D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer with the Lewisburg Police Department.
“Parents play an important role in dramatically reducing teen abuse and access to prescription drugs since they are most often found in the home. It’s time to have frequent and detailed conversations with your teen about the risks of misusing these medications,” Dove said.