Emergency Department Visits
for Drug Overdoses in Ottawa
March 2017

This report provides available monthly trend data on drug overdoserelated emergency department visits. It provides information on
the overdose-related emergency department visit trends relating to
overdoses in the last 6 months.

The data used in this report is from:
•  Drug overdose-related emergency department data
•  Ottawa Paramedic Service response data
•  Ottawa Paramedic Service naloxone administration data

This data is updated monthly with additional data and indicators added as they become available.

30

20

10

0
M

ar

b

b

ar

M

Fe

Fe

n

26

12

26

12

29

Date

Drug overdose-related emergency
department visits with life-threatening
or potential life-threatening
circumstances
Key points:
•  Emergency department visits
by week were stable between
October and December 2016
•  An increase started in January
2017, and returned to pre-2017
levels in late March 2017

March
2017

108 visits

2017
year to
date

319 visits

2016
Total

1,122 visits

This product was developed in partnership with the Ottawa Overdose
Prevention and Response Task Force. For more information visit:

Ottawa Paramedic Service Data:
January 2017 to March 2017

710

Paramedic responses
to overdose/intoxication

32

# of patients administered
naloxone by paramedics for
suspected opioid overdose

NALOXONE

9-1-1

An OVERDOSE is a medical
emergency. Anyone that suspects
or witnesses an overdose should
immediately CALL 9-1-1, even if
Naloxone has been given.

www.StopOverdoseOttawa.ca

17

20

17

20

17

20

17

20

17

20

17

20

17

16

20

20

8

16

20

15

1

c1

n

n

Ja

Ja

Ja

De

16

20

16

16

20

0

v2

v6

20

16

20

3

c4

De

No

No

t2

Oc

t9

Oc

The diagram on the right
shows weekly counts of
drug overdose-related
emergency visits in Ottawa
for the past 6 months
among those aged 10
to 64. It only captures emergency department
visits with life-threatening or potential lifethreatening circumstances. It does not include
people who overdose and do not access an
emergency department.

ED visit count by week

What are the emergency department (ED) overdose trends in the last 6 months?