Crawford County recorded 46 fatal drug overdoses between 2019 and 2022 — 46 neighbors, parents, sons, and daughters whose deaths are too often reduced to a statistic, or worse, a stigma. Statewide, Missouri lost 1,450 people to overdose in 2024 alone. While this reflects a 26 percent drop from the year before — the steepest decline the state has seen in nearly a decade — it still means thousands of local families have buried someone they loved to this disease.
That is why I want Crawford County residents to know about an opportunity coming to Warrensburg, that can change how our communities talk about addiction. From February 1 through December 3, 2027, the McClure Archives and University Museum at the University of Central Missouri will host “Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories — MO,” a statewide exhibit from the INTO LIGHT Project.
Rather than focusing on grim statistics, the exhibit puts a human face on the crisis by featuring original graphite portraits of Missourians who died from addiction, each paired with a written narrative about their life. There is no cost to participate. In return, each family keeps the original framed portrait and narrative forever. Missouri’s collection will also become part of a permanent national archive preserved at the University of California, San Francisco.
The exhibition is limited to 30 submissions across the state, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Submissions opened on August 1, 2026, and will close on November 1, 2026, or sooner if all spots are filled. I urge any Crawford County family who has lost a loved one to addiction to consider sharing their story. You can learn more and submit directly at intolightproject.org/share-your-story. I also encourage everyone else to attend the opening reception at Warrensburg University on February 13, 2027 from 1-3 p.m.
Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, and our loved ones deserve to be remembered as more than a cause of death. If you have any questions, or if you decide to submit a candidate from Crawford County, please consider contacting me at dmuel747@gmail.com.
Denise Mueller
Crawford County, Mo.
