The local notification system on opioid overdoses has issued an alert ahead of an international day of awareness.
The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) has noted an increase in opioid-related emergency department visits in the region between August 22 and August 28 and has issued an alert.
The alert was set on the eve of Wednesday's International Overdose Awareness Day, during which local stakeholders are urged to take action in preventing overdoses and reducing the risk of death caused by them.
According to WECOSS, eight opioid overdoses were reported by Windsor Regional Hospital during the seven days. Six of those overdoses involved fentanyl.
"Alongside the ED visits, the system also identified seven consecutive days of substance use-related EMS calls over this time frame, for a total of 21 calls received," read the WECOSS alert.
This alert is the sixth issued during the calendar year 2022.
WECOSS is a group of agencies that include the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Windsor-Essex municipalities, school boards, Windsor police, Ontario Provincial Police, LaSalle police, Essex-Windsor EMS, Windsor Regional Hospital, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and others.
Community partners are being asked to observe the awareness day on Wednesday by sharing information about a naloxone training webinar, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. by Pozitive Pathways Community Services. Partners are also asked to encourage the obtaining of naloxone kits and participate in National Drug Drop-Off Month, where people may return unused drugs to pharmacies, no questions asked.
