Drug overdose deaths have spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, 88,000 people in the US died from a drug overdose between September of 2019 and August 2020 about a 27% increase over the year before.  The CDC includes the first six months of the pandemic. Those between 35 and 44 appear to be the most at risk of dying of a drug overdose. Cheryl Crowe, Vice President of Behavioral health for OSF says that people who were seeking treatment often don’t have it available.

Crowe says that places like Peoria and Champaign were making great strides to work towards treatment methods for drug addiction before COVID hit.

Crowe also says that isolation and loneliness have not helped combat drugs, as people use drugs as a way to cope.

There are plenty of resources available all across Illinois that can help you combat opioid addiction. 

For those in Christian County struggling with drug addiction, you can contact Safe Passage through their Facebook page or call the Safe Passage Coordinator: Denise Evans at 217-777-0080 or 217-638-3247. You can also call the Taylorville Police Department at 217-824-2211, and ask for Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler.