A unique program that aims

to stop drinking and driving for teenagers will have its first class in

Georgia at Smokey Road Middle School.

The program, called "Courage

for Life" was brought to the attention of the county's school

system by Sheriff Mike Yeager.

"The sheriff had heard

about this program in other states and wanted to see if we were interested

in it," said school system public information officer Dean Jackson.

This is the first program in

the country that targets middle-school students. While middle school students

are not yet driving, Jackson said the program reinforces the danger of

combining imbibing and driving.

Jackson said Yeager sought

grants to help defray the costs of teaching materials for the program,

which will be held at Smokey Road Middle School Feb. 6.

"It's just going

to be piloted at one school this year and eventually expanded to the other

middle schools," Jackson added.

The program will be taught

in all of the school's science classes that day, because the science

curriculum alread had elements of the program in place.

"It's going to be

a 50-minute program for all the students, and we're very excited

about being the first school system in the state to do it. "