If the current pace continues, there will twice as many overdoses this year in Grey County than in 2018.

Grey County has averaged 50 drug overdoses the past two years, but in the first three months of 2019, Grey County EMS have been called to 27 drug overdoses, including two deaths in Hanover.

In response to the sudden spike in overdoses, the Grey-Bruce Health Unit distributed more than 40 naloxone kits to 'at risk' users/areas in the county.

All the overdoses are opioid related.

Grey County has a system in place so that paramedics automatically advise health unit officials about drug overdoses, so tracking is better than in much of the province and they can respond more quickly to an increase.

Naloxone kits can be picked up at the health unit and local pharmacies, more details are available through the health unit.