Emergency medical services calls

Figure: Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services calls for suspected opioid-related incidents, by month, 2018–2026

Line graph of monthly opioid-related calls attended by Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services from January 2018 to May 2026. Counts vary widely from month to month (see table, below). The rolling 3-month average count rises from about 15 calls per month in early 2018 to around 80 calls per month by early 2021. Levels remain elevated through 2021, then generally decline throughout 2022. Counts are roughly stable, near 50 calls per month, through most of 2023 and 2024, fall to about 30 calls in early 2025, before increasing again. The number of calls increases significantly starting in late 2025, with over 100 calls per month in April and May 2026.

Note:

  • Counts, especially those from recent months, are preliminary and subject to change.
  • These data include cases where the responding paramedic suspects opioid involvement. This may differ from the final diagnosis or cause of death.
  • These data only include instances in which 911 was called and thus are only an estimate of the total number of opioid-related drug poisonings in the community.

Source: Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services, July 2, 2026.