Opioid overdoses across Chatham-Kent have skyrocketed over the past five months and broke an unfortunate record last month.
CK Public Health Public Relations Officer Stephanie Egelton told Blackburn News paramedics were called 31 times last month for suspected opioid overdoses, which is more calls than any month on record since tracking began, and more than double the calls in March and April.
CKPH Epidemiologist Laura Zettler said there have been a total of 72 EMS calls and 60 emergency department visits since the beginning of the year because of suspected opioid overdoses.
CK Public Health reported so far in 2020, there have been suspected overdose deaths, but these have not been confirmed as opioid overdose deaths based on the coroner’s data.
Egelton added there have been 58 EMS calls and 48 ER visits between March and May of this year because of suspected opioid overdoses, compared to 36 EMS calls and 30 ER visits during the same period last year.
CKPH said the rate of opioid overdose-related ER visits in Chatham-Kent is more than double the provincial average.
Last month 36 naloxone kits were distributed by CK Public Health for a total of 230 kits to date.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is used to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.
Director of Public Health Teresa Bendo said the health unit continues to expand its Naloxone distribution program because it's getting more popular all the time.
"Our needle/syringe clients are a particularly vulnerable group in this community. Throughout this pandemic we've maintained the level of service for our needle/syringe program as it was deemed essential," Bendo told Board of Health members on Wednesday.
Bendo said CKPH has recently signed agreements with the local Women's Centre and the CK Mental Health Association to provide Naloxone kits at their organizations and has trained firefighters to use Naloxone.
She added a couple more organizations should be signed up in the future and they continue to explore more partnerships.
CK Public Health has harm reduction staff that are trained and educated to support vulnerable populations.
Click here to learn more about harm reduction.