Bluewater Health Emergency entrance at the Sarnia site. BlackburnNews.com file photo.Bluewater Health Emergency entrance at the Sarnia site. BlackburnNews.com file photo.
Sarnia

Opioid Crisis Hits Home

Opioid overdose-related visits at hospital emergency departments are up across the province and Bluewater Health is no exception.

Tuesday the provincial government announced a 76% increase in such emergency department visits in April, May and June from the same time period in 2016.

Vice President of Mental Health and Addictions Services Paula Reaume-Zimmer says exact figures are not available yet locally, however there has been an increase of opioid overdose-related visits.

"The most recent data that we have, our emergency department ranks approximately in the middle of the pack, 23 out of 49 sites," says Reaume-Zimmer. "So although our ranking isn't the highest ranking of our comparators, we're still very concerned about the presence of the crisis in our community."

Reaume-Zimmer says despite the large increase in the number of opioid related overdoses, alcohol still remains the predominant substance being abuse and causing higher health risks and concern.

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