By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Chatham-Kent Marks International Overdose Awareness Day with Urgent Call for Courage and Action
On a somber afternoon, residents, health professionals, and community advocates gathered across Chatham-Kent to mark International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), honouring lives lost to the drug toxicity crisis and rallying for change. The event, held at multiple sites including R.O.C.K. Missions in Chatham and Wallaceburg, was a poignant reminder of the local toll and the courage required to confront it.
In 2024, Chatham-Kent recorded 40 suspected drug-related deaths, a sharp rise from 27 in 2023, with 13 confirmed or probable opioid poisoning deaths between January and June alone. Emergency services responded to 166 suspected opioid poisoning calls in 2024, more than double the previous year’s total of 75. These figures place Chatham-Kent well above the provincial average, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
The unregulated drug supply—often laced with potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl and sedatives such as benzodiazepines—has made it increasingly difficult for individuals to protect themselves. “It’s really hard for people to prepare and be safe in the unregulated supply,” said Jordynne Lindsay, Community Drug Strategy Coordinator. “The contaminants are causing the poisoning deaths.”
The event emphasized the importance of substance use health care, which prioritizes meeting individuals where they are, without judgment. Services such as sterile use supplies, supervised consumption supports, and naloxone distribution were highlighted as essential tools that save lives, reduce disease transmission, and connect people to care.
Speakers from the CK Community Drug Strategy—a Collective Impact initiative led by the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team—outlined ongoing efforts to expand harm reduction and treatment services, strengthen education, promote inclusion, and combat stigma. Peer support workers from R.O.C.K. Missions shared personal stories of recovery and resilience, reinforcing the message that every life matters.
Attendees were encouraged to carry naloxone kits, available for free at CK Public Health, Reach Out Chatham-Kent, and participating pharmacies. Resources such as Connex Ontario and the Hope for Wellness Helpline were promoted to ensure residents know where to turn for help.
As the community lit candles and wore purple to honour those lost, the message was clear: courage is not just in recovery—it’s in every act of compassion, advocacy, and understanding. “We love you; we care about you. You matter and we want you to be around tomorrow,” Lindsay said.
Together, Chatham-Kent is choosing courage over silence, and community over crisis.
