HALDIMAND—Six suspected opioid overdoses in less than three weeks – four of them fatal – have raised alarm for police in Haldimand County.
The incidents, which occurred between December 20, 2025 and January 8, 2026, prompted the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to issue a public safety alert, warning residents about the potentially lethal risks associated with opioid use and the dangers posed by an unpredictable, unregulated drug supply.
According to the OPP, members of the Haldimand detachment responded to six suspected opioid poisonings during that period, with four resulting in death.
Police said the concentration of incidents over a short time frame underscores the urgency of seeking medical help immediately when an overdose is suspected.
In its release, the OPP urged anyone who uses substances to take precautions, including not using alone, carrying naloxone, and calling 911 without delay if someone becomes seriously ill after consuming a narcotic.
“Anyone who suffers serious illness after consuming a narcotic should call 911, attend a local emergency room, or attend a walk-in clinic immediately,” the release stated.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Graham of the Haldimand County Major Crime Unit said timely intervention can save lives and stressed that fear of legal consequences should never prevent someone from seeking emergency help.
“These overdoses certainly highlight the fact that the misuse and abuse of controlled substances is highly dangerous and can be deadly,” Graham said. “We also know that overdose deaths can be preventable if medical attention is received quickly, so I would like to remind witnesses to call 911 and stay with the victim. Don’t be afraid, just pick up the phone and call, it could save your friend’s life.”
Police also highlighted the protections provided under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, which applies to anyone who calls for emergency assistance during an overdose situation, including the person experiencing the overdose.
The OPP said the legislation protects individuals from charges related to simple possession.
“The act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives,” the release stated. “The act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.”
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, police are asking for the public’s assistance as they work to hold those responsible for supplying dangerous drugs accountable.
The OPP emphasized that information from the community can play a critical role in advancing investigations and laying criminal charges.
“Every life matters, and these deaths will not go unnoticed,” the release stated. “We need the public’s support and assistance to hold drug traffickers accountable for these deaths.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Haldimand OPP Crime Unit at 1-888-310-1122. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online, where they may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Public health officials say the recent deaths in Haldimand County are occurring amid broader regional challenges related to opioid use, where trends can shift quickly and are influenced by multiple factors.
Dr. Jason Malenfant, Medical Officer of Health for Grand Erie Public Health, said predicting changes in opioid-related emergency department visits or deaths is difficult due to the evolving nature of the drug supply and individual risk factors.
“It is difficult to reliably predict trends in opioid-related emergency department visits or deaths, as opioid poisonings are influenced by a complex and evolving combination of factors,” Malenfant said. “These include the potency and toxicity of the drug supply, polysubstance use, individual health conditions and tolerance, access to harm-reduction and treatment services, and broader social and environmental factors such as housing stability, stigma, and social isolation.”
The most recent available data shows that in 2023 there were 79.4 emergency department visits per 100,000 people due to opioid toxicity in the Haldimand-Norfolk area. That figure marked a decrease from 99.4 visits per 100,000 people in 2019. The opioid toxicity death rate was 11.2 cases per 100,000 people in 2023, unchanged from 2019.
Grand Erie Public Health does not release more detailed, municipality-specific figures due to privacy concerns in communities with small populations.
“When numbers are small, releasing additional details increases the risk that individuals could be identified, particularly in smaller communities,” Malenfant said. “For that reason, opioid-related emergency department visits and deaths are reported at a combined Haldimand-Norfolk level to protect privacy while still allowing meaningful trend analysis.”
Grand Erie Public Health is also developing a Substance Use Dashboard to provide the public and community partners with clearer, data-driven information on opioid-related harms.
Currently, GEPH has a dashboard for Brant-Brantford. The dashboard for Haldimand Norfolk, he said, is expected to launch later this year.
The dashboard, which took approximately three months to develop, draws on data from sources including the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, and police services.
“These statistics are intended to support evidence-informed decision-making and public awareness,” Malenfant said. “Internally, they help guide program planning and service delivery. Externally, they provide residents, community partners, and decision-makers with a clear, data-based picture of substance use trends and related harms over time.”
Grand Erie Public Health issued an opioid safety alert on January 5, 2026. That alert applied specifically to Brantford-Brant following a spike in fatal and non-fatal overdoses in that area. At the time, it did not extend to Haldimand County, though officials continue to monitor conditions across the entire Grand Erie region.
Public health officials continue to emphasize that opioid-related harms remain preventable. Recommended measures include not using alone, carrying naloxone, testing substances where possible, and calling 911 immediately during an overdose.
“Grand Erie Public Health continues to work closely with community partners to respond to emerging risks and to support people who use substances with compassion, evidence-based interventions, and access to care,” Malenfant said.
