Chatham-Kent has one of the highest rates in Ontario for emergency department (ED) visits due to suspected opioid overdoses, according to a provincial analysis conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research showed the municipality is one of the top three Ontario health units for overdoses at an ED. As well, the year-to-date rate of ED visits for opioid overdoses in Chatham-Kent was nearly double the provincial average (75.2 compared to 40.8 per 100,000).
CK Public Health said there were 10 suspected opioid overdose-related EMS calls in July (102 to-date in 2020) and eight opioid overdose-related ED visits in the municipality in July (80 to-date in 2020).
The data also showed the number of opioid overdose-related EMS calls and number of ED visits in July were lower than in previous months. The research, however, showed the provincial rate of ED visits has seen a decrease since a state of emergency was declared in mid-March, however, the number of opioid-related deaths are increasing. Opioid overdoses across Chatham-Kent have skyrocketed since the beginning of the year and broke the local record for most opioid overdose-related EMS calls in May.
There were five overdose deaths in CK between January and May of 2020 compared to six deaths in 2019. The death data from Public Health Ontario includes four confirmed deaths and one probable case. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of death in the probable case.
Public health officials warn the death data is subject to change and should be considered as preliminary as remaining cases are investigated by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario.
CK Public Health said more than 591 naloxone kits were distributed in the region during the first five months of the year, either by the local health unit or through area pharmacies.
The Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) topped all 14 Ontario LHINs when it came to opioid prescriptions in 2018, but the numbers were slightly down from those reported for the area in 2017.