Update
Please note that there will not be an opioid report for November 2021 due to ongoing COVID-19 response work. The Health department continues to monitor trends in opioid overdoses within the community, and will release a December 2021 opioid report summarizing the most recent data in the new year as resources permit.
Paramedic services calls
Year to date: 156
Year-to-date calls for suspected opioid overdose between January 1 and October 31, 2021.
Emergency department visits
Year to date: 114
Year-to-date visits by Halton residents to an emergency department in Ontario for a confirmed opioid overdose between January 1 and October 31, 2021. This is lower than the number of visits that occurred during this period in 2020 (125 visits) or 2019 (178 visits), but involves preliminary data and may be subject to underreporting.
Naloxone distribution and use
The Halton Region Health Department directly distributed 391 naloxone kits over the last 12 months. The most kits were distributed in Oakville, followed by Burlington. 297 (76%) of the kits distributed were refill kits.
Opioid-related deaths
There were 23 possible opioid-related deaths among Halton residents from January to June 2021.
Suspect drug-related deaths
There were 47 suspected drug-related deaths among Halton residents from January 1 to October 31, 2021. This is higher than the same period in 2020 (39 deaths) and 2019 (38 deaths).
Halton compared to Ontario
Rate of emergency department visits
In 2020, the rate of emergency department visits for confirmed opioid overdose among residents of any age was 29.4 visits per 100,000 in Halton and 84.5 visits per 100,000 in Ontario.
From 2014 to 2020, the rate of emergency department visits for opioid overdose has increased in Ontario and has been consistently higher in Ontario compared to Halton.
Rate of opioid-related deaths
In 2020, the rate of opioid-related deaths among residents of any age was 6.5 deaths per 100,000 in Halton and 16.3 deaths per 100,000 in Ontario.
From 2014 to 2020, the rate of opioid-related deaths has increased in Ontario and has been consistently higher in Ontario compared to Halton.
Data source: Opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Ontario tool, Public Health Ontario.
Opioid reports
Opioid reporting provides a monthly snapshot of opioid activity in Halton Region. The report summarizes various indicators of opioid activity for the given month, including paramedic services calls and emergency department visits.