Vital Perspectives is a four-part story series about some of the broadest public health issues of our time and how they impact individual and population health in Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas. They amplify the vital perspectives of those with lived experience, public health professionals, and community partners. We hope this series helps you learn more about public health work and the issues that require our shared time, energy and investment.
Part one
There are few crises that have beset so many communities so quickly as the opioid crisis has. Across Canada there are approximately 20 opioid toxicity deaths per day - more than 7,000 each year. There are countless physical, psychological and social harms beyond death for the individuals who consume opioids, and for those who love and care for them. The reasons behind this crisis are complex and multi-faceted.
The resolution to this crisis must be complex and multi-faceted as well. Prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement are all equal and important parts of the solution - as are the associated factors of belonging and connectedness, housing, employment, mental health, poverty, and discrimination and violence.
Infographics: Telling the story of the opioid crisis in Oxford County, Elgin County and St. Thomas
The health harms related to taking opioids (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, methadone) have increased and continue to increase, across our region. These harms include deaths, infections, and overdoses requiring emergency services and hospitalization. The average number of monthly deaths from opioid overdoses have increased from 1.42 per month in 2019 to 3.83 per month in 2021.
Download full size infographics as PDFs.
