Hamilton Opioid Information System

From January 1, 2023 to November 26, 2023, Hamilton Paramedic Services responded to 904 incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses.

• Since January 2017, the majority of cases (74%) were male, and the average age was 38 years.
• In 2022, Hamilton Paramedic Services responded to fewer incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses, 814 incidents (approximately 68 per month), compared to 2021.
• In 2021, Hamilton Paramedic Services responded to more incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses, 914 incidents (approximately 76 per month), compared to 2020.
• In 2020, Hamilton Paramedic Services responded to fewer incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses, 565 incidents (approximately 47 per month), compared to 2019. 
• In 2019, approximately 596 people called 911 for a suspected opioid overdose, which was about 50 per month and 1.3 times higher than 2018. 
• In 2018, approximately 450 people called 911 for a suspected opioid overdose, which was about 38 per month.

Monthly opioid-related paramedic incidents in Hamilton

This figure shows the monthly number of paramedic incidents related to suspected opioid overdose in Hamilton since January 10, 2017.

Source: Hamilton Paramedic Services, extracted November 27, 2023.

Map of Paramedic Incidents Related to Opioid Overdose

Note: This map shows the concentration of opioid-related paramedic incidents between January 1, 2017 to October 1, 2023.

Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone is available free of charge at many pharmacies.

Note: Because of the way naloxone is disseminated in the community, published data now reports naloxone doses distributed. Previously published data reported naloxone kits distributed. One kit is equivalent to 2 doses. 

Sources: Hamilton Public Health Services, Mental Health & Harm Reduction Program, extracted September 12, 2023.

Ministry of Health (MOH), Drugs and Devices Division. Health Network System. Received September 13, 2023.

Due to a data quality issue which is currently under investigation, the data from June 4, 2022 has been found to be unreliable and was removed on August 11, 2022. This data will be updated once the issue has been resolved.

Visits for general overdoses and drug misuse

Between May 21 and May 28, 2022, there were 65 emergency​ department visits at Hamilton hospitals for drug misuse or overdose. This includes overdoses and misuse associated with drugs and substances other than opioids

Visits for suspected overdoses

Among the 65 patients visiting Hamilton emergency departments from May 21 to 28, 2022, 29 cases were suspected overdoses, which may have been related to any drug or substance.

Six month trend

Over the past six months, the numbers of emergency department visits for drug misuse/suspected overdoses has been stable.

Source: Acute Care Enhanced Surveillance, KFL&A Public Health Knowledge Management Team. Prepared by City of Hamilton Public Health Services, extracted August 10, 2022.

Visits and hospitalizations for opioid poisoning

In August 2023, there were 68 emergency department visits and 14 hospitalizations for opioid poisoning.

Between January 2022 and December 2022, on average, there were 63 emergency department visits and 9 hospitalizations per month.

For more information about opioid-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations among Ontario and Hamilton residents, view the Public Health Ontario's Interactive Opioid Tool. Note that the number of emergency department visits on the tool for Hamilton count the visits among Hamilton residents, while the numbers on this page count the number of patients visiting Hamilton hospitals.

Note: December 2017, January 2018 and February 2018 ED visit data from St. Joseph's Hamilton were 95% complete at the time of reporting. As a result, opioid ED visits may be temporarily undercounted for this reporting period.

Source: Hamilton Health Sciences, IDS: National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), received November 13, 2023.

Opioid-related deaths are increasing annually in Hamilton.

In 2023 - As of July, 94 Hamilton deaths are probable or confirmed to be opioid related.

Previous years:

• 2022: 168 Hamilton deaths are probable or confirmed to be opioid related.
• 2021: 163 Hamilton deaths are probable or confirmed to be opioid related. 
• 2020: 127 Hamilton deaths are confirmed to be opioid related.
• 2019: 106 Hamilton deaths are confirmed to be opioid related.
• In 2018: 120 confirmed opioid-related deaths in the City of Hamilton, representing a 36% increase over the same period last year (88 deaths). Between 2016 (52) and 2017 (88) , there was a 69% increase in the opioid-related death rates.

Note that probable deaths are those for which the investigation to determine cause of death is ongoing. 

Note: Preliminary data for 2022 and 2023; contains confirmed and probable cases. Data from all years remains subject to change, though the majority of opioid-related deaths are confirmed within 12 months.

Source: Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, November 10, 2023

How Hamilton compares

Between 2005 and 2022, Hamilton had a higher rate of opioid-related deaths when compared to the provincial average.

• In 2022, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 63% higher than the provincial rate. 
• In 2021, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 43% higher than the provincial rate. 
• In 2020, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 30% higher than the provincial rate.
• In 2019, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 73% higher than the provincial rate. A decrease in opioid-related death rate was noted from 2018 to 2019 in Hamilton.
• In 2018, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 110% higher than or more than double the provincial rate.
• In 2017, Hamilton's opioid-related death rate was 69% higher than the provincial rate.

For more information about opioid-related deaths in Ontario, view the Public Health Ontario's Interactive Opioid Tool.

Source: Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, extracted from the Public Health Ontario Interactive Opioid Tool, November 1, 2022.

The number of deaths in Hamilton that are suspected to be drug-related can be an early indicator of trends in opioid-related deaths.

From January 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023, there have been 161 suspect drug-related deaths in Hamilton.

Note: Suspect-drug related deaths are not opioid-specific, and include deaths that could be related to other drugs. Data are preliminary and subject to change.

Source: Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, received November 9, 2023.