Essex-Windsor EMS ambulance, June 20, 2019. Blackburn News file photo.Essex-Windsor EMS ambulance, June 20, 2019. Blackburn News file photo.
Windsor

Windsor-Essex reports spike in opioid overdoses

A recent increase in drug overdoses in Windsor-Essex has once again led to an alert.

The alert was reported Saturday morning by the Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS), of which the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is a partner.

According to the alert, between April 23 and April 29, the health unit’s surveillance and monitoring system identified 12 opioid overdoses, 10 of which involved fentanyl and two of which involved other opioids that have not yet been specified.

"On April 29 specifically, there were five overdoses that involved fentanyl, two overdoses that involved non-opioid substances, and one overdose in which the substances involved are unknown," read the alert. "Additionally, on April 29, there were seven EMS Overdose Notifications flagged by the system. Together, these indicators meet our thresholds for an extreme alert."

The WECOSS, the local health unit as well as Windsor Regional Hospital, Essex Windsor-EMS, Erie Shores Healthcare, and Police Services are continuing to monitor the increase and working to understand more about the reported cases.

This is the second opioid overdose alert issued in Windsor-Essex so far this week.

On Wednesday, WECOSS issued one for the week of April 19 and 25.

An alert was also previously issued for the week of April 5 and April 11.

WECOSS has provided comprehensive information on opioid overdose prevention and treatment, as well as administering naloxone in the event of an overdose. For details, visit their official website.

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