A new police program in far east Kentucky allows community members struggling with drug addiction to seek help without facing reprisals.
The Daily Independent reports the Ashland Police Department launched its Angel Program on Thursday.
The program allows people to surrender illegal items, drugs or paraphernalia and connect them to treatment options.
Ashland Police Chief Todd Kelley says he wants community members to see police "as a resource rather than an adversary" and says officers will continue to pursue drug traffickers.
A similar Kentucky State Police initiative was implemented earlier this year in far west Kentucky.