Chatham-Kent continues to have a higher rate of deaths believed to be caused by opioid overdosing or poisoning.
In her June 2023 opioid surveillance summary, CK Public Health Epidemiologist Laura Zettler said overall, the number of suspected drug-related deaths in May was higher in Chatham-Kent than in previous months, as was the number of opioid poisoning-related EMS calls and Emergency Department (ED) visits for opioid overdoses during May.
Zettler reported five suspected drug-related deaths in Chatham-Kent in May to bring the total number of suspected drug-related deaths to 14 during the first five months of 2023, adding a total of 44 suspected drug-related deaths were reported during 2022 across Chatham-Kent.
Zettler also reported one confirmed opioid poisoning death in Chatham-Kent between January and February 2023. Last year, a total of 33 opioid poisoning deaths were confirmed locally.
The data also showed six visits to CK hospitals in May because of opioid overdoses bringing the total number to 38 overdose cases seen at Chatham-Kent's EDs from January until May 2023.
CK Public Health noted CK paramedics responded to three suspected opioid overdoses in May and 24 so far this year.
Overall, Zettler said CK’s rate of ED visits for 2023 to date is comparable to the province overall, but the rate of suspected drug deaths is higher (12.9 versus 8.6 per 100,000).
Her report summarized that preliminary data from 2022 showed Chatham-Kent experienced a "significantly higher rate of opioid poisoning deaths" compared to the province (30.5 versus 16.0 per 100,000).
The data showed those deaths continued to impact males aged 25 to 44 years old the most and fentanyl directly contributed to over 90 per cent of the deaths.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent continues working to create a coordinated drug strategy for residents.
Province-wide, Ontario had 256 suspected drug-related deaths in May (1,327 to date in 2023 and a total of 3,475 deaths in 2022).
Provincial data showed 274 confirmed opioid poisoning deaths between January and February 2023 (2,408 deaths in 2022)
The number of ED visits and suspected drug deaths in Ontario during the month of May was comparable to previous months, according to Public Health Ontario. Suspected drug deaths for the last three months are also comparable to the previous three months, but lower compared to the same time period in 2022 and 2021 during the pandemic, however still higher than pre-pandemic.
The data was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Ontario, Chief Coroner of Ontario, and Chatham-Kent EMS.