The latest opioid surveillance report from Chatham-Kent Public Health (CKPHU) shows 20 suspected deaths related to all drugs in Chatham-Kent (CK) during the first five months of this year, four of them in May alone.
The June opioid report by CKPHU also showed six of the 20 deaths were suspected to have been related to opioid overdoses.
According to the health unit, the rate of suspected drug-related deaths in CK remained higher than the provincial rate so far this year at 17.3 per 100,000, compared to 6.7 per 100,000 across Ontario.
The report also showed a total of 158 EMS calls so far this year regarding opioid overdoses in CK. The data showed 26 calls in May, a 24 per cent drop compared to the previous month.
There have also been a total of 115 ED visits in CK in the first five months of 2026, higher than the Ontario rate.
ED activity in CK related to opioid overdoses declined in May, CKPHU noted, with 16 visits, a 30 per cent month-over-month decrease, and a steady three month drop since it peaked and set a record in February.
CK Public Health continues to remind the public that these findings highlight ongoing risks with the local drug supply and the persistent pressure it's putting on local emergency services.
