The latest report from Chatham-Kent (CK) Public Health indicates three more deaths in July that are believed to be connected to drug overdoses.
This brings the total number of suspected drug-related deaths in CK for May, June, and July to 10. In the first seven months of 2026, there have been 28 such fatalities.
Health officials pointed out that the rate of suspected drug-related deaths through July is still 2.5 times higher than the provincial average, with CK at 24.3 per 100,000 compared to Ontario’s 9.6 per 100,000.
According to the health unit, the opioid overdose death rate in CK year-to-date stands at 6.9 percent, which is more than double the provincial average of 3.0 percent.
CK Public Health mentioned that there’s a “significant lag” in reporting opioid overdose deaths due to delays in toxicology tests, coroner investigations, and case reviews.
In July alone, EMS responded to 37 suspected opioid overdose calls, marking an increase of 85 percent from June. These calls bring the total number up to 218 as of the end of July, according to the report.
Emergency departments (ED) at CKHA experienced a month-over-month increase of 167 percent in opioid overdose visits during July, rising from nine visits last month to a total of 24 this month. The report states there were a total of 154 ED visits as of July 31.
Public health officials noted that CK’s rate for opioid overdose visits to EDs remains over double the provincial rate (133.6 per 100,000 in CK compared to Ontario’s rate of 49.8 per 100,000).
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