The most recent opioid report from Chatham-Kent (CK) Public Health shows an increase in suspected drug deaths.
The September Opioid Surveillance Report stated that six people died from a suspected drug overdose in August, up from three in July.
The health unit added that 12 people in CK have died from a suspected drug overdose in June, July, and August.
According to the report, a total of 34 CK residents have died from January 1 to August 31 from what officials believe to be drug overdoses, approximately triple last year's deaths during the same period.
CK Public Health reported that this drug-related death rate is around 2.5 times higher than the provincial rate, with 29.5 per 100,000 in CK compared to 11.3 per 100,000 in Ontario.
Based on the latest data, the health unit also said 10 local people have died from an opioid overdose in the first half of 2026, four of them in March, April, and May. Last year during the same period, only four opioid overdose deaths were recorded.
The opioid overdose death rate in CK year-to-date is currently 8.7 per cent, more than double the provincial rate of 3.8 per cent, according to the opioid report.
The report also showed that EMS calls and Emergency Department visits related to drug overdoses decreased in August.
In August, the health unit noted paramedics responded to 21 suspected opioid overdose calls, a 43 per cent drop compared to the previous month.
A total of 239 EMS calls have been recorded in the first eight months of this year, said officials, up from the 96 calls during the same period in 2025 or 2.5 times higher.
CKHA Emergency Departments (ED) also saw a 73 per cent month-over-month decrease in opioid overdose visits during the month of August, down to seven from 26 the previous month.
According to the opioid report, there were 163 ED visits as of August 31 compared to 67 during the same time frame the previous year or 2.5 times higher.
Public health officials noted CK's rate of opioid overdose visits to the ED is still 2.5 times the provincial rate (141.4 per 100,000 in CK compared to 57.6 per 100,000 in Ontario).
The Municipality said factors contributing to increases in opioid-related harms include limited access to addiction treatment services, harm reduction services and available social supports, and increases in mental health issues and a volatile supply of unregulated opioids and other drugs.
