Deaths, ER visits due to opioid use jumped during pandemic, MLHU report says

The number of deaths and emergency department visits due to opioid overdoses in London, Ont., jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report to be presented to Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) Board of Health. 

An update on the opioid crisis will be presented at Thursday's meeting. It includes statistics that suggest illegal drug use may have surged during the pandemic:

• Deaths: In 2020, there was an average of eight opioid-toxicity deaths per month in the MLHU's region. By June 2021, that number had edged up to 12 a month. 
• Emergency department visits: This number tripled, from 37 in January 2020 to 113 in June 2021.

The report says the London statistics echoed similar trends across Ontario. There was a 45 per cent increase in opioid overdose deaths across the province between January 2020 and June 2021, from 152 to 220. 

"Opioid poisonings continue to pose a significant public health threat in the Middlesex-London Health Unit region," the report says.

Other stats in the report show an increased use of services used by London's drug using population, including:

• Needle syringe programs: These provide sterile syringes to reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. There were 1.9 million syringes distributed in 2021, up from 1.7 in 2020 and one million in 2019.
• Naloxone kit distribution: This increased more than  60 per cent throughout the pandemic. A total of 8,900 naloxone kits were distributed and 1,252 used in response to opioid poisonings in 2021 compared to 2020 when 6,064 kits were distributed and 1,189 kits were used. In 2019, there were 4,687 kits distributed with 737 used.
• Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) Site visits: Operated by the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, this location on King Street provides a place where drugs can be consumed in the presence of trained staff for safer outcomes. In 2021, there were 14,013 visits, 13,932 referrals and 237 overdoses; in 2020 there were 20,047 visits, 810 referrals and 126 overdoses; and in 2019 there were 28,859 visits, 1,576 referrals and 171 overdoses.
• Local Drug Alerts: These are issued to the drug-using community and service providers when the presence of potentially deadly toxins are detected in the drug supply. There were four alerts issued in 2021 and three in 2020 and 2019.
• Safer Supply: This program provides a safe supply of opioid medication to people deemed at risk of overdosing. The program started in 2016 and is located at London InterCommunity Health Centre (LIHC)  with Dr. Andrea Sereda. A total of 280 people are using the program, and the MLHU report says the documented outcomes show a lower incidence of emergency department visits, IV drug use and survival sex work.

"The opioid crisis has continued to escalate through the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially exacerbated by challenges for clients to access many in-person services," the report says. 

The report will be presented for information to the Board of Health at its Thursday meeting.