An increase in drug overdoses in Windsor-Essex over the past few days has led to an alert.
The alert was reported Tuesday afternoon 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 March 9 and March 15, the health unit’s surveillance and monitoring system identified 27 overdose-related emergency department visits. Seven of the visits involved opioids, five of which were fentanyl.
The WECOSS said the overdose numbers during this time frame are higher than expected when compared to historical numbers for the same reporting week.
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.
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.
