Opioid Surveillance

Most Recent Update: 2021-03-31

The Porcupine Health Unit publishes opioid surveillance information to help inform members of our communities. By collaborating with our partners across the region, opioid-related information can be provided in a timely manner. Public alerts may also be issued across the region if toxic opioids or contaminants are found in the drug supply, or when there are significant increases in opioid incidents. Data will be updated monthly, or when new information is available.

This data includes cases where the responding paramedic suspects opioid involvement. This may differ from the final diagnosis or cause of death.
This data only includes instances in which 911 was called, and are only an estimate of the total number of overdoses in the community.
This data is preliminary and subject to change pending further review.
Due to the weekly nature of the reporting, totals in months are approximate as some weeks incorporate the end of one month and the beginning of another month.

Figure 1: Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services calls for suspected opioid-related incidents, by month, 2021.

Table 1: Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services calls for suspected opioid-related incidents, by month, 2020-2021.

Table 1: Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services calls for suspected opioid-related incidents, by month.
Month - Year	2020	2021
January	11	26
February	9	15
March	24	25
April	22
May	18
June	26
July	19
August	27
September	49
October	30
November	13
December	21

Source: Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services, March 31, 2021.

Public Health Ontario

Figure 2: Confirmed Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits, by month, Porcupine Heath Unit Region, 2017–2020

See Table 2 below for accessible format of the data.

Table 2: Confirmed Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits, by month, Porcupine Heath Unit Region, 2017–2020

Table 2: Confirmed Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits, by month, Porcupine Heath Unit Region, 2017–2020

Month - Year	2017	2018	2019	2020
January	2	1	6	10
February	5	3	17	7
March	2	5	9	19
April	4	12	14	10*
May	1	3	18	13*
June	3	6	19	6*
July	9	10	7
August	2	4	5
September	4	6	5
October	5	5	7
November	3	9	16
December	2	8	9

*Asterisk denotes preliminary data

Source: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Interactive Opioid Tool (https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/ substance-use/interactive-opioid-tool). Accessed on October 13, 2020.

Figure 3: Opioid-related deaths among Porcupine Health Unit residents, by month, 2017–2020

See Table 3 below for accessible format of the data.

Table 3: Opioid-related deaths among Porcupine Health Unit residents, by month, 2017–2020

Table 3: Opioid-related deaths among Porcupine Health Unit residents, by month, 2017–2020
Month - Year	2017	2018	2019	2020
January	0	0	1	1
February	0	1	4	4
March	0	1	3	2
April	0	1	1	0*
May	0	0	2	2*
June	0	0	1	4*
July	1	0	0
August	0	2	0
September	0	2	1
October	0	1	0
November	0	4	6
December	1	1	3