The Champaign Police Department remains concerned over a series of drug overdoses that have occurred over the past week. Since February 16th, over 10 individuals have required medical treatment and hospitalization regarding a drug overdose. Of those incidents, two fatalities have resulted. It appears that the drug overdoses may be a result of a deadly form of heroin that is being sold to drug users. The Champaign Police Department is currently investigating these incidents in an attempt to determine the source of the drugs.
“This is an unusually high number of reported incidents in the brief window of time,” stated Police Chief Anthony Cobb. “This is a sensitive issue with multiple layers and our obvious objective is to remove the drugs and drug dealers off of our streets, but most importantly, this caution is issued because we value the lives of all of our Champaign and neighboring citizens.”
Individuals using heroin should use extreme caution, as this drug can produce life-threatening medical conditions. A heroin user experiencing a serious physical illness should seek immediate medical assistance by calling 911.
The Champaign Police Department encourages that if you or a person you know is facing a substance use disorder, to seek help for treatment referral and information services. Resources include the following help lines:
| The Prairie Center, Urbana | (217) 356-7576 |
| Community Elements, Champaign | (217) 373-2436 |
| SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration), National Hotline |
1-800-662-HELP (4357) |
Anyone with information on the recent drug overdoses, or of the individuals involved in the sale of heroin within the Champaign-Urbana area are urged to contact the Champaign Police Department. The sale or possession of a controlled substance such as heroin is prohibited by law, and those engaged in illegal drug activity may be subject to possible criminal charges. Anonymous crime tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477 (TIPS); online at www.373tips.com; or by texting the following: CCTIP plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES). Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for these crimes.