So far this year, Lambton EMS has responded to over 170 calls for opioid related overdoses.
In its latest opioid bulletin for the month of July, Lambton Public Health said paramedics were called to 31 opioid overdose related incidents, bringing the year-to-date number of calls to 172.
That's up from 126 calls during the same timeframe last year.
Preliminary data released in the monthly bulletin said so far this year there have been 10 probable deaths related to opioid poisoning.
LPH said there were 36 related deaths in 2023, compared with 32 in 2022.
Emergency department data for opioid related overdose visits has not been available since October 2023 due to the regional hospital cyberattack.
Drug users are reminded the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects you from simple possession charges, in the event you have to report an overdose or call 911.
Free naloxone kits are also available to the public at the Exmouth Street health unit and at area pharmacies.
