‘We’re absolutely thrilled’: Opioid overdoses drop 61 per cent in Grey Bruce

Grey Bruce has seen a dramatic drop in opioid deaths and overdoses in 2025. CTV’s Scott Miller explains why.

Fewer people are overdosing and dying from drug overdoses in Grey Bruce than last year.

“I was surprised at the level of drop, the significance, the size of the drop. I knew we were doing good work. I knew we were having an impact. I knew we were having the right conversations. But, to see this significant a drop in not actually a lot of time is really, really impressive,” said Francesca Dobbyn, executive director of the United Way of Bruce Grey.

According to the Grey Bruce Health Unit, the number of opioid overdoses in Grey-Bruce fell 61 per cent last year, from 215 in 2014 to 83 in 2025. Opioid related deaths fell 77 per cent from 26 in 2024 to just six last year.

Grey County led the way with overdoses falling from 184 in 2024 to 72 last year. Bruce County saw overdoses drop from 32 to 11.

It’s a precipitous drop, caused by many factors Dobbyn says, comprised of a recognition that Grey Bruce had a problem, and quick action and collaboration across agencies to directly tackle the problem on the ground.

“There’s been a huge effort to make sure naloxone is available without too many barriers to that. That harm reduction supplies are there. That drug testing is happening, so people understand what they’re taking and what the impact is. Lots of conversations about use less, go slow, don’t use alone,” explained Dobbyn.

Dobbyn says Grey Bruce’s SOS program, or Supportive Outreach Services, started in 2022, which provides mobile clinics for addiction and mental health patients, and features a nurse practitioner, mental health counsellor, paramedic, and social program navigator, was a big first step.

But the big change happened in 2024 when the Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre opened. The recovery centre has seen 2,300 clients since opening a year and half ago.

“When somebody is ready to have that conversation and says, ‘Okay, you know, I don’t want to do this anymore,’ that we can go, ‘Okay in maybe in an hour we can get you somewhere,’ versus, ‘Here’s a six month wait list, good luck and we’ll see you next week.’ The wellness centre has majorly impacted the opportunities for people who wish to stop,” said Dobbyn.

“The SOS program and other support services in Grey County provide a wraparound approach to providing care. SOS may be the first point of contact providing basic needs and immediate care. As trust is built, clients can be referred to other services for further mental health or medical treatment, or social supports like housing and life skills development,” explained Grey County Paramedic Chief Kevin McNab.

Dobbyn says Grey Bruce opioid strategy isn’t cheap, costing multiple millions, but it is working and is being pursued as an option by other communities across Ontario.

“We get called in to present across both the province and potentially across the nation, to say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ In little Grey Bruce, this is what we can do. Imagine what you could do,” said Dobbyn, who is also SOS co-chair.

“The 2025 numbers are positive, but they aren’t zero. We know we have more work to do,” said McNab. “Substances in drug supplies are always changing, and we need to stay ready to react and respond. Not as individual services, but as a system of care.”

“Taking a collaborative, multi-agency approach to the opioid epidemic is working in Grey County and it’s saving lives,” said Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs.

“Local non-profit organizations, hospitals, public health, and municipalities have a shared focus on improving the outcomes of those struggling with mental health and addiction in the County. We’re all united and we’re all investing in innovative programs, services and technology that are making a difference,” she said.