By Marcel Pacatte
Editor’s note: This story originally ran in the Waverly Journal.
It’s here. And it’s killing people. And officials want to raise awareness in hopes that it will prevent further deaths.
Crime Stoppers of Sangamon County has launched a push for information that will help take dealers off the street. And while Morgan County hasn’t officially joined in the campaign, Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson said she has seen 27 people die from the drug in the past five years.
“It’s a problem,” she says.
One reason is that a minuscule amount of fentanyl can be lethal and, Patterson said, drug dealers and users aren’t aware that a tiny bit can be all it takes to end a life.
“These people aren’t chemists,” Patterson shares, and imprecision and carelessness can be deadly.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, overdose deaths have trended upward in the state between 2013 and 2023, the last year for which complete statewide data is available.
In Sangamon County, overdose deaths declined last year for the first time in seven years. Last year, there were 80 overdose deaths there, compared to 90 the previous year.
Of those 80 deaths, 24 involved fentanyl.
Patterson said the stats in Morgan County are more stark.
“All of our drug overdose deaths are from fentanyl. One hundred percent.”
Six died in 2025, five in 2024, eight in 2023, three in 2022 and five in 2021. Twenty-seven total.
The problem, Patterson said, is that people lace methamphetamine with fentanyl and the result is a more dangerous combo than meth by itself.
Crime Stoppers said that through collaboration with law enforcement and community partners it is committed to removing fentanyl from streets and improving public safety.
The organization asks anyone who has information about fentanyl activity — or any crime — to call. Tips to Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties may be made at 217-243-7300 or via cityprotect.com/forms/morganscottcrimestoppers.webs.com/anonymous.
Tips leading to arrests may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.
Crime Stoppers’ tag line is that it wants your information, not your name.
