The number of deaths in Chatham-Kent caused by opioid overdoses continues to trend downwards.
In the latest Chatham-Kent (CK) Public Health opioid surveillance report, the public health unit noted that overall, the number of opioid-related deaths in CK and Ontario in the first six months of 2025 continued to show a "decreasing trend" from the previous year.
Public health officials reported two confirmed or probable opioid poisoning deaths in CK between June and August 2025 to bring the total to five opioid-related deaths in the municipality so far this year.
The report also showed nine suspected deaths related to all drugs in the past three months, from September to November, to bring that total to 19 deaths to date in 2025.
CK Public Health also said the average number of opioid poisoning-related EMS calls, Emergency Department (ED) visits, and suspected drug deaths was similar to last month.
According to the CK opioid surveillance report, there were 14 suspected opioid poisoning calls to CK EMS in November to bring the total to 149 so far this year. Last year there was a total of 185 all year.
There were also 11 non-opioid drug overdose calls to CK EMS last month, bringing that total to 107 to date in 2025, well above the 80 calls all of last year, the report showed.
In October, the public health unit reported the number of EMS calls for opioid overdoses in August was the highest in a year.
The Emergency Department also dealt with nine opioid overdoses in November for a total of 95 so far this year.
"To date in 2025, CK has experienced similar rates of suspect drug and opioid deaths and a higher rate of opioid ED visits compared to Ontario," officials reported.
CK Public Health reminds the public that the unregulated drug supply is unpredictable.
