Lambton EMS has seen a dramatic increase in the number of opioid-related overdose calls since last year.
Just in May, they dealt with 25 related calls.
Epidemiologist Crystal Palleschi said from January to June there have been 100 overdose related calls to EMS, that's up from 69 for all of 2018.
"We've seen an increase in EMS calls specifically over the last several months," said Palleschi. "ED visits, we haven't seen as notable an increase, it fluctuates more. But we did notice that in May, both EMS calls and ED visits were higher than all previous months since January of 2018."
Lambton Public Health is urging those who use street drugs to never use alone and have a naloxone kit with you.
Recent evidence from provincial labs suggests there's been an increase in the very toxic carfentanil in Ontario, which directly contributed to over 140 deaths in the first four months of the year.
Mental Health and Addictions Program Coordinator Ellie Fraser said there's a number of things that need to happen to address the crisis locally.
"Increasing our withdrawal management services and having a physical sort of detox space but there's also issues with housing locally, issues with ensuring people have sufficient mental health support," said Fraser.
In Ontario last year, 1,469 people died from an opioid-related overdose, including eight in Sarnia-Lambton between January and September.
Lambton Public Health reminds drug users that free naloxone kits are available at the health unit and at local pharmacies.
The health unit's June Opioid Surveillance Bulletin says since the beginning of the year, they've distributed 992 kits.
