The opioid overdose notification system for Windsor-Essex has issued an alert after higher-than-usual activity was reported last week.
The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) has noted an increase in the number of opioid-related emergency department visits in the region between July 25 to July 31, resulting in the alert.
WECOSS said a total of 12 opioid overdoses were reported by Windsor Regional Hospital, nine of which involved fentanyl.
“These values significantly exceed the two-year historical average for the current week in question, meeting our criteria for a public alert,” read a statement from WECOSS.
Health officials said the system also identified seven consecutive days of suspected overdose emergency calls during this period, with at least one call received per day. In total, there were 17 suspected opioid overdose calls during the July 25-31 timeframe.
WECOSS is a group of agencies that include the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Windsor-Essex municipalities including the City of Windsor, Windsor police, Ontario Provincial Police, LaSalle police, Essex-Windsor EMS, Windsor Regional Hospital, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and others.
Complete information on the alert, and how to recognize an opioid overdose can be found on the WECOSS official website.
