The number of suspected drug-related deaths or opioid overdoses in Chatham-Kent so far this year is down when compared to the final three months of 2024.
The latest opioid surveillance report from Chatham-Kent Public Health showed the one suspected drug death in CK during the first three months of this year was less than the three months prior. However, the number of opioid-related EMS calls was higher over that stretch.
CK Public Health reported a total of 48 suspected drug-related or opioid overdose deaths in CK last year, adding 23 were confirmed or probable opioid overdose deaths locally in 2024 compared to 16 in 2023.
The local health unit said there were 13 suspected opioid overdose calls to CK EMS in the month of March for a total of 27 since the beginning of 2025. There were 185 total calls in 2024.
Public health officials also reported seven non-opioid drug overdose calls to CK EMS in March to bring the total so far this year to 27 compared to 80 last year.
CK Public Health Epidemiologist Laura Zettler reported opioid-related visits to the emergency department (ED) since January 2025 were similar to last year's numbers.
There were five opioid overdose visits to the ED in March alone for a total of 22 since January 2025, compared to a total of 175 in 2024.
"Based on the most current coroner’s data, the majority of opioid poisoning deaths have been among males age 25 to 44, with fentanyl directly contributing to over 95 per cent of deaths," reported Zettler.
She said provincially, about one in five opioid deaths occurs amongst people experiencing homelessness, but that ratio is higher in CK.
According to Zettler, opioid poisoning EMS calls, ED visits, suspected drug deaths overall and opioid-related deaths in CK last year trended higher compared to 2023 and were about the same when compared to provincial figures.