ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - “We have to stop the pain, suffering, and terrible loss before it’s too late.”

That’s the message printed on flyers handed out Saturday at a Heroin Kills rally in St. Louis.

Jeannie Gore of O’Fallon, Mo. lost a son to an overdose in January, “It’s an epidemic hitting all communities across the metro area. It’s not just a city ghetto drug. It’s everywhere.”

In addition to raising public awareness, Gore has a plea for help, “I’d like to see our legislators get more involved, more police and DEA trying to knock it down. All these kids have to do is drive down the street and they can get it.”

Chris Duren of Red Bud, Ill. organized the rally. Her son, Brandon, was found dead of a heroin overdose in a St. Louis motel room near where the rally was held, “This (heroin use) has got to stop. It’s taken kids away from their parents and parents away from their kids. It’s destroyed families.”

The flyers handed out at Saturday’s event contained names and phone numbers of drug hotlines and treatment centers.