The consortium that monitors drug-related overdoses in Windsor-Essex has issued an alert after multiple incidents were reported over New Year's.
The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) sent out an opioid alert Wednesday evening, after at least eight emergency department visits and ambulance calls were reported between Tuesday, December 28, 2021, and Monday, January 3.
All of the overdoses involved fentanyl, and were handled by Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington.
Also, there were at least ten non-overdose ED visits, nine of which involved fentanyl. WECOSS has considered that number excessive for the time period covered, prompting the alert.
WECOSS includes the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Windsor Regional Hospital, Essex Windsor-EMS, Erie Shores Healthcare, Windsor police, LaSalle police, Ontario Provincial Police, and others.