Empowering youth to make positive decisions and lead healthy, drug-free lives.
Together We Can Make a Difference
HOPE is built on the concept that it takes all of us, working together, to maintain a strong, healthy Franklin County. Each of us brings different strengths, talents, and energy to the cause. Please join our effort by attending a meeting, providing your feedback, and signing up for our mailing list. You can also check back here for a calendar of upcoming events to support, or to see the photos of recent coalition activities.
When’s the next HOPE meeting or upcoming event?
Our Programs
Real or Fake? Don’t Take the Chance.
When you take prescription pills that are not yours, you’re taking a chance. They might be “real” medicine, but if they weren’t prescribed for you, you could have a negative reaction because of other medications you take or because of another health condition you have.
They could also be “fake” or counterfeit pills, which don’t contain the medicine you might think and often include other things like fentanyl- a synthetic opioid that is stronger than heroin. This scenario can cause serious illness, or even death.
These are the facts:
- Drug overdose deaths have increased among youth by 109%.
- About 90% of these deaths involved opioids (like Oxycodone, Codeine, Percocet, Hydrocodone and others.
- 84% involved fentanyl.
- Counterfeit pills were present in nearly 25% of these deaths.
- 7 out of 10 fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
Learn more about the real dangers of fake pills here. And if you know someone who is using other people’s medicine, talk to a trusted adult and ask for help. (Source: SAMHSA; DEA)
Keep Kids Safe: Lock Up Your Medication
Adults: You can help prevent opioid overdose by showing your children you are aware of the dangers of prescription misuse.
- Talk to your kids about the dangers of taking medication that doesn’t belong to them. Go to TalkAboutItMO.com for tips on how to start a conversation that could save their lives.
- Secure medications you store at home (especially opioid painkillers) in a locked container if possible. Visit one of the Scenic Regional Library locations in Franklin County and ask for your free Medication Safety Kit, including a free locking bag. You can also email us at HOPECoalitionFC@gmail.com to request one for your home.
- Carry Narcan. This life-saving drug does just one thing: reverse an opioid overdose. It’s available FREE at one of the PreventEd Narcan Vending Machines located at this link, or by emailing us at HOPECoalitionFC@gmail.com. You can also text 314.246.9788 to connect with a Certified Peer Specialist at PreventEd.
Secure Your Cannabis
- Understand the laws about medicinal and recreational cannabis use in Missouri
- Store cannabis products securely to avoid accidental ingestion and underage use
- Start conversations with youth that help them understand why this drug is not for them
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the state’s licensing and regulatory body responsible for safe, responsible cannabis sales to adults. Be sure to check their website here to learn all about the cannabis laws regarding recreational and medicinal consumption, possession, cultivation, and more.
Safe storage of cannabis includes keeping it out of reach, out of sight, and locked up. HOPE provides free locking devices that can help caring adults keep young people safe. Simply email us your request at: HOPECoalitionFC@gmail.com to get yours.
Our partners in Washington State have created an award-winning campaign called “Cannabis Conversations” including age-appropriate talking points for youth from 8 to 21 years of age. Check them out in English and Spanish to help you get the conversation started.
YOUth Belong!
Young people need strong, positive relationships in their families, schools and community in order to thrive. But often, they miss out on these important relationships due to bias, prejudice, and exclusion that is based on their age, income, gender, and other differences. YOUth Belong! is a program designed to educate community members about the importance of all youth feeling accepted, respected, and valued.
The results of the 2023 survey are very positive! While adults often report they could improve their efforts to support youth, the teens who participated shared that their community is doing a good job showing them we see, value and respect them. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUMMARY REPORT.
Join us as we help show young people that YOUth Belong! Click HERE to learn about how you can get free YOUth Belong! items like stickers, bookmarks, buttons and keychains to show everyone you believe that ALL youth are important.
“YOUth are seen, YOUth are valued, Youth belong!”
Artwork by Maddie Dickinson, HOPE Coalition Youth Sector Representative
Additional Resources
The Rural Community Action Guide, provided through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, empowers local leaders to meet the unique challenges faced by rural areas attempting to create effective programs to address substance use disorder. The guide helps coalitions to face these challenges head on with recommended action steps and best practices for local solutions that will create real change.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center provides communities, clinicians, policy-makers and others with the information and tools to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings. Resources can be found HERE about vaping, medication assisted treatment, preventing marijuana use among pregnant women, and many more subjects.