Chatham-Kent (CK) Public Health is reporting nine suspected deaths related to all drugs in CK in the first two months of 2026, following three in December.
That's much higher than the provincial average, according to the CK Public Health March opioid surveillance report.
The monthly report showed Chatham-Kent had eight overdose deaths per 100,000 people compared to Ontario, which had 2.7 per 100,000.
CK public health officials also reported 12 confirmed or probable overdose deaths linked to opioids only in CK last year (10.7 per 100,000), also higher than the provincial average of 7.8 per 100,000.
They added that seven of the confirmed or probable opioid overdose deaths in CK happened from September to November.
The March report from the local public health unit also showed a concerning trend. It stated that January and February had the highest monthly volumes of opioid overdose EMS (paramedic) calls that have been observed since tracking of the statistic began in 2019. The figure showed 70 suspected opioid overdose EMS calls evenly split in January and February, compared to 164 in all of 2025.
According to the monthly report, CK EMS has also received 19 non-opioid drug overdose calls during the first two months of 2026, with 10 in February and a total of 114 in 2025.
The number of emergency department (ED) visits due to opioid overdoses also surpassed the Ontario average.
Officials noted 46 ED visits in 2026, or 41 per 100,000 in CK, compared to 10.3 per 100,000 in Ontario, adding that 26 of them occurred in February alone.
"Since last month’s report, the average number of opioid poisoning (overdose) EMS calls, ED visits, and suspected drug deaths has remained elevated," said officials.
According to CK Public Health, data so far this year is showing a similar trend to last year, when the municipality experienced higher rates of suspected drug and opioid deaths and a higher rate of opioid ED visits compared to Ontario.
Public health officials blame the unregulated and unpredictable drug supply.
The situation is not all bleak, though. CK Public Health said ED visits and EMS calls for opioid overdoses appear to have decreased in March, compared to the high levels observed in January and February.
Data also showed the number of opioid-related deaths in CK and Ontario continued to decrease last year.
The numbers showed that men between the ages of 30 and 59 are most impacted by opioids, and half of all opioid toxicity deaths occur among people who can't afford basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and housing.
