CANTON, GA — The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad has rolled out an intelligence-based team that will address and crack down on the devastating opioid crisis in the county. The CMANS Heroin/Opioid Team (HOT) will focus on heroin and other synthetic opioids while also investigating the diversion of legitimate prescription drugs to the street.

CMANS agents will be supported in this effort by a full-time intelligence analyst. Agents will continue to work with other local, state and federal agencies to identify and investigate those individuals selling and distributing opioids throughout North Georgia, the agency said on its Facebook page.

Agents assigned to the Team will work with area medical professionals to identify and arrest individuals who forge prescriptions or falsely obtain prescriptions to sell to users. National statistics show opioid abusers start down the path of addition due to the overuse and overprescribing of prescription drugs, CMANS state.