Lambton EMS continues to see an upward trend in the number of opioid overdose-related calls.
According to the latest Opioid Bulletin from Lambton Public Health, paramedics responded to 23 calls in December, up from 16 in October and 19 in November.
In total, Lambton EMS responded to 220 opioid overdose related calls in 2023, down slightly from 240 the year before.
Lambton Public Health Mental Health and Addictions Program Coordinator Ashlee Brown said the number of opioid overdose-related emergency department visits in the community is trending higher than the provincial average.
"From January to September 2023 the rate of opioid overdose-related emergency department visits was 92.37 per 100,000 population in Lambton," said Brown. "So this is compared to a provincial rate of 87.6 visits per 100,000 residents."
Brown said data for hospital visits for October through December 2023 was not immediately available because of the cyberattack impacting Bluewater Health.
Preliminary data shows 24 opioid overdose-related deaths from January to September in Sarnia-Lambton, and 1,929 across the province.
"In 2022, we [Lambton] saw a preliminary count of 19 [probable overdose deaths] during that same time period of January to September," said Brown.
Drug users are reminded that free naloxone kits are available at Lambton Public Health and at local pharmacies.
The health unit says in 2023, they distributed a total of 4,293 kits.
Drug users are also reminded the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects you from simple possession charges, in the event you have to report an overdose or call 911.
