Home / Health / Opioid ER Visits Surge in London, Middlesex
Opioid ER Visits Surge in London, Middlesex
23 Oct
Summary
- Opioid-related ER visits rose in the first eight months of 2026.
- The region recorded 650 opioid-related ER visits through August 30, 2026.
- The closure of Carepoint has raised concerns about increased overdoses.
Opioid-related emergency department visits in London and Middlesex have seen an increase in the first eight months of 2026. This marks the first such rise in the region since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 1 and August 30, 2026, 650 opioid-related ER visits were recorded, exceeding the entire total from 2025.
These preliminary figures underscore the persistent impact of the opioid crisis and the precariousness of recent improvements. The illicit drug supply, characterized by unpredictable contamination, remains a significant driver. Recent spikes in overdoses, particularly downtown incidents involving suspected medetomidine, are a serious concern.
Efforts to combat the crisis include the distribution of over 13,000 naloxone kits in 2025 and approximately 8,700 in the first six months of 2026. An anticipated increase in naloxone distribution for 2026 is partly attributed to the closure of the Carepoint supervised consumption site in June. The withdrawal of provincial funding for Carepoint has led to worries about a potential rise in fatal overdoses, with continued monitoring needed to assess the full impact.
