Paramedics in Durham Region are responding to a dramatic surge in suspected opiate overdose calls this spring, with the numbers climbing to the highest levels seen in four years and health officials pointing to the unregulated drug supply as the primary driver behind the increase.
The region recorded 73 suspected opiate overdose paramedic calls in March, which jumped to 104 in April, and then surged to 142 in May, marking the highest monthly total in the past four years by a significant margin. For comparison, the previous record during the 2022 to 2026 period was 98 calls in December 2023, a month that also saw 65 emergency department visits and seven deaths attributed to suspected opiate poisonings across Durham.
Emergency room visits have remained relatively steady throughout 2026, with 25 visits recorded in May. The peak came in January with 32 emergency department visits. However, health officials caution that both paramedic calls and emergency room visits likely underestimate the true scope of the crisis, as not all opiate poisonings result in a call for emergency services or a hospital visit.
A spokesperson for the Durham Region Health Department confirmed the sustained increase over the past five months and identified the unregulated drug supply as the main culprit, including the presence of medetomidine, a veterinary sedative increasingly found mixed with fentanyl in the current street drug supply. Medetomidine can amplify the respiratory depression caused by opioids, making overdose episodes more severe and more difficult to reverse with standard naloxone doses alone.
Oshawa and Ajax consistently account for the largest share of opiate overdose incidents across Durham Region, though municipal-level data typically lags by several months in reporting. The most recent breakdown available from March shows Oshawa with 39 of the 73 reported paramedic calls region-wide, while Ajax recorded 21. Together, the two municipalities accounted for more than 80 percent of all suspected overdose calls in the region that month.
The numbers paint a concerning picture for Durham Region as it heads into the summer months, a period that has historically seen elevated rates of drug-related emergencies across southern Ontario. Public health officials continue to stress the importance of harm reduction resources, including naloxone kits and supervised consumption services, as critical tools in preventing fatal overdoses.
Community organizations across Durham have been working to expand outreach and education efforts, particularly in Oshawa and Ajax where the concentration of overdose calls remains highest. The health department encourages anyone who uses substances, or knows someone who does, to carry naloxone and to never use alone. Free naloxone kits are widely available at pharmacies, community health centres, and public health offices throughout the region.
The opioid crisis has been a persistent challenge across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond, but the sharp escalation in Durham Region over just three months underscores the volatility of the current drug supply and the urgent need for continued public health intervention. Residents are urged to stay informed and to support local harm reduction initiatives working to save lives across the community every day.
