There seems to be no explanation for a growing painkiller epidemic in Canada.
A Health Quality Ontario report shows the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, which includes Chatham, Windsor, and Sarnia, is the highest among 14 LHINs in Ontario and above the provincial average of 14% for opioid use.
Both the LHIN and Health Quality Ontario can't explain why this crisis is happening.
Health Quality Ontario says "it doesn’t know exactly why painkiller use is so high" in the Chatham, Windsor, Sarnia area but points to potential factors like "an aging population, an unhealthy population, differences in prescribing practices or lack of access to non-opioid options for pain control, such as physical therapy."
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit says it's doing what it can as directed by the province.
The province announced a strategy last year to prevent opioid addiction and overdose including disorder and prescription management.