By Grant Bissell
Jefferson County, MO (KSDK) - As Jefferson County continues to struggle with a heroin epidemic, one community spent Friday night taking a stand against the drug.
Jefferson County P.R.I.D.E., a drug prevention and education coalition, set up shop outside Hillsboro High School's football game.
A Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy said there were 16 heroin-related deaths in the county last year and they've already investigated 12 this year.
The mother of a young man who died last February of a heroin overdose shared her message at the rally.
"He was a student athlete here at Hillsboro High School and I just want to put the message out there that it doesn't have to get to this point where someone passes away from this. There is help out there and people need to know that there is and do what they can to get their loved ones through this kind of thing," said Kathy Allen.
Organizers held a candlelight vigil to remember all those touched by heroin addiction.
KSDK