The latest opioid report from Chatham-Kent (CK) Public Health highlights a rise in suspected drug-related deaths.
The September Opioid Surveillance Report indicated that six individuals died from a suspected drug overdose in August, an increase from three in July.
The health unit also noted that 12 people in CK lost their lives due to a suspected drug overdose over June, July, and August.
According to the report, a total of 34 residents of CK have died from January 1 to August 31 from what officials suspect are drug overdoses, which is roughly three times higher than last year’s fatalities during the same timeframe.
CK Public Health reported that this rate of drug-related deaths is about 2.5 times greater than the provincial average, with 29.5 per 100,000 residents in CK compared to 11.3 per 100,000 across Ontario.
Based on recent data, the health unit stated that ten local individuals have passed away due to an opioid overdose in the first half of 2026, four of them occurring in March, April, and May. Last year during this period, there were only four opioid overdose deaths recorded.
The current year-to-date opioid overdose death rate in CK stands at 8.7 percent, more than double the provincial rate of 3.8 percent as per the opioid report.
The report also revealed that EMS calls and Emergency Department visits linked to drug overdoses decreased in August.
In August, health officials mentioned that paramedics responded to 21 suspected opioid overdose calls, marking a drop of 43 percent compared to the previous month.
A total of 239 EMS calls were logged during the first eight months of this year; this is up from just 96 calls within the same timeframe last year or about two and a half times higher.
CKHA Emergency Departments (ED) experienced a significant decrease as well-73 percent less month-over-month for opioid overdose visits during August-going down to seven visits from 26 previously.
The opioid report highlighted that there were 163 ED visits by August 31 compared with just 67 during the same period last year or around two and a half times greater.
Public health officials pointed out that CK’s rate for opioid overdose visits to ED remains approximately two and a half times higher than provincial levels (141.4 per 100,000 in CK versus 57.6 per 100,000 across Ontario).
The Municipality mentioned various factors contributing to rising opioid-related harms include limited access to addiction treatment services and harm reduction initiatives along with available social supports plus growing mental health challenges and an unstable supply of unregulated opioids and other drugs.
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