October 1, 2025

Joe Bachetti
Chair, Board of Health
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
1005 Ouellette Avenue
Windsor, ON N9A 4J8

Re: Addressing Opioid and Substance Harms

Dear Board Chair Bachetti,

At their September 18, 2025 meeting, the Middlesex-London Board of Health made the following resolution: It was moved by S. Franke, seconded by A. DeViet, that the Board of Health:

1. Endorse item d) Windsor Essex County Health Unit re: Addressing Opioid and Substance Harms and
2. Direct the Board of Health Chair, the Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer to write a letter with Middlesex-London opioid and substance harm data to the Ministry of Health, City of London Council and Middlesex County Council.

Similar to Windsor-Essex, Middlesex-London has been experiencing the heightened impacts of the opioid and substance use pandemic within the community. In May 2025, the Board of Health heard information on Middlesex-London’s population health needs and priorities. From 2017 to 2023, the rate of emergency department visits for opioid poisonings in the Middlesex-London region consistently exceeded those in Ontario. In 2022, the rates of methamphetamine toxicity deaths nearly tripled in Middlesex-London compared to 2019. Public health units in Ontario play a critical role in an ongoing comprehensive community approach along the four pillars of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement.

The Middlesex-London Board of Health will be reviewing a report at the November 20, 2025 Board of Health meeting with 2025 data and information on the opioid and substance use pandemic in Middlesex-London. The Secretary and Clerk will be pleased to forward this report, along with the above noted correspondence letter regarding the matter. The Board of Health will continue to provide information on data related to the opioid and substance use pandemic in the community and will encourage other Boards of Health to provide this local information to their respective municipal, provincial and federal representatives.

Sincerely,

Mike Steele
Board Chair
Middlesex-London Health Unit

Emily Williams BScN, RN, MBA, CHE
Secretary
Middlesex-London Health Unit

Alex Summers MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
Middlesex-London Health Unit

CC: Board Member Skylar Franke