Grey Bruce Public Health is continuing its work to understand and reduce the use of opioids in the region.
Public Health Physician Specialist Dr/ Rim Zayed says the organization is monitoring the situation, and using several community outreach strategies to reduce the number of overdoses and overdose-related deaths.
During the April meeting for the Board of Health, Zayed shared 13 people experienced overdoses in a one week period (March 27 to April 3). Opioids are used to treat pain and can induce a feeling of euphoria.
Typically, overdoses tend to happen with drug users aged 25-44, but this recent occurences involved people ranging in age from 19-68, with the average age being 38 years.
Overall, Grey Bruce has the lowest number of emergency room visits per 100,000 residents compared to other health regions, and the year-over-year numbers locally are starting to go down.
In 2020, the health region saw 79 emergency department visits for overdoses, which ballooned up to 131 in 2021, then fell to 101 in 2022.
Zayed says as Public Health understands how and why people are using these drugs, they are better able to treat and prevent overdoses, as well as prevent the root causes of drug use.
Grey Bruce Public Health is working on post-event Supportive Outreach Services (SOS) to help those who use drugs and want to stop.
They also help get drug users and those at risk of using into social programming that help keep them away from drugs.
Dr Zayed is optimistic about the work being done, saying “If we remain on that high level of connectedness and collaboration, we will be able to have good results.”
Pubic Health is working with local police and health care providers to ensure enhanced surveillance, as well as making sure naloxone is available in the event of an overdose occurrence.