To help combat the growing local heroin problem, THE HOPE Campaign is taking shape with the help of the Jefferson City Police Department, MUSTANG Drug Task Force, area medical professionals, substance abuse treatment professionals and families affected by the drug.
Cole County Sheriff's Department is also working to bring the program into Cole County.
Heroin Overdose Prevention and Education is a program aimed at parents, educators and concerned community members.
The program is modeled after one from St. Louis County. Sgt. Joe Matherne with the Jefferson City Police Department led an in-service training for the department. The pubic will be invited and encouraged to attend public meetings.
Matherne told the crowd that the idea for a town hall meeting came from a CrimeStoppers meeting, after heroin began to make news headlines around the area.