The agency group monitoring overdoses in Windsor-Essex has issued its first alert of 2023.
The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) has issued the alert after a rise was reported in opioid-related emergency department visits between December 29, 2022, and January 4, 2023.
During that week, WECOSS recorded 13 opioid-related overdoses that required care in an emergency department. On January 4 alone, there were ten cases.
Eight of the 13 cases reported involved fentanyl.
"The weekly values exceed our two-year and five-year historical average for the current week in question by more than two standard deviations above the mean, and the daily value for January 4 exceeds our two-year and five-year historical average for the date in question by more than three standard deviations above the mean," read the alert from WECOSS. "During this same time period, the system also recorded a total of 18 EMS calls for suspected opioid overdose, ten of which occurred on January 4th. Together, these values meet our criteria for a public alert."
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has asked the community to give them a call if they become aware of any links between these cases.
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.
