Lambton EMS has seen a slight drop in the number of opioid-related overdose calls this year but a pandemic-related surge is feared.
In its monthly Opioid Surveillance Bulletin, Lambton Public Health said from January to June Lambton EMS responded to 97 opioid overdose calls, compared to 109 in the same time period last year.
Local emergency departments also handled fewer opioid-related visits, 72 compared to 91 during the same time frame.
Mental Health and Addictions Program Coordinator Ellie Fraser said it's unclear if the drop is directly related to the pandemic. However, she said there's some concern there will be a large spike in the months ahead, as the pandemic continues to take a toll on people's mental health.
"We know that folks have been struggling," said Fraser. "In a survey, one in four Lambton residents even stated that their mental health has changed for the worse since COVID. Certainly for some people this can result in more drug use, more alcohol use, this is going to be a concern that we see ongoing throughout the rest of the pandemic and post-pandemic, whenever we get there."
Fraser said despite the drop in emergency department visits compared to 2019, Lambton County is still above the provincial average.
"This isn't sort of new, traditionally I think for the past few years we've seen that emergency department visits here in Lambton have been higher than Ontario," she said. " So, even though we may have not seen some of those spikes that are being seen in other communities, overall opioid use in Lambton remains high."
Lambton Public Health reminds drug users that free naloxone kits are available at the health unit and at local pharmacies.
The health unit said since the beginning of the year, they’ve distributed 1,176 kits.
