By Jack Bozikis
PEORIA, Ill. – (25 News) – Peoria County is seeing fewer overdose deaths so far in 2026, continuing a broader decline from a sharp spike just three years ago.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said the county has recorded 15 drug overdose-related deaths from Jan. 1 through Sept. 24.
That compares with 38 overdose deaths during all of 2025. The county recorded 36 in 2024, down from 60 in 2023.
Harwood said he considers 2023 an outlier, pointing to the growing presence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in the local drug supply at the time.
“The quantity of fentanyl and the overdoses were significantly increased as well,” Harwood said.
He believes greater public awareness surrounding fentanyl, along with expanded harm-reduction efforts, has contributed to the decline since then.
Harwood pointed to the work of organizations such as JOLT Harm Reduction, including the availability of fentanyl test strips and other drug-testing resources.
The coroner’s office has also increased its ability to quickly identify what substances are involved when several overdoses happen within a short period of time.
“If we have two or three overdoses in one week, that’s a big deal,” Harwood said. “We’re checking the drug supply immediately.”
Harwood said the office now has technology that lets staff test substances and quickly share findings with community partners.
“That makes a difference where we can get that information out sooner rather than later,” he said.
Harwood also believes continued conversations about Narcan have played an important role in preventing fatal overdoses.
He said public attention surrounding the overdose-reversal medication has fluctuated over the years, but keeping Narcan visible and readily available remains critical.
“If we quit talking about it, people forget that it’s there. They forget that they need it,” Harwood said.
Access to substance use treatment has also improved compared with when Harwood took office in 2016, although he said barriers remain and some people still face waits before getting into treatment programs.
Harwood said the lower number of overdose deaths this year does not surprise him because he is also hearing fewer overdose-related calls involving police and fire departments.
“I just hear it less and less and less,” Harwood said. “So the number doesn’t surprise me. It pleases me, actually, because it’s just one more person who’s able to get to treatment.”
Fentanyl remains one of the primary substances connected to overdose deaths in Peoria County, but Harwood said another drug is receiving less attention than it should.
He estimates roughly 20% of the overdose deaths his office handles involve cocaine intoxication.
Harwood said people may unknowingly encounter cocaine contaminated with fentanyl or may overdose after returning to cocaine use following a period of abstinence.
He said cocaine-related deaths are particularly prevalent among adults between the ages of 30 and 70.
Despite the improving numbers, Harwood said the community cannot stop talking about substance use, prevention, Narcan and treatment.
“There’s a family behind every one of these death numbers,” Harwood said.
He said every decrease represents more than a statistic.
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