Spike in opioid overdoses leads to community alert in Windsor-Essex

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A recent rise in opioid overdoses has prompted a community alert by the partners of the Windsor Essex County Community Opioid and Substance Strategy.

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According to a bulletin by WECOSS, a total of nine opioid overdoses were reported at local hospitals between March 28 and April 3.

Six of those overdose incidents involved fentanyl.

WECOSS states that these numbers exceed the region’s historical averages “by more than two standard deviations above the mean.”

During the same time period, Essex-Windsor EMS responded to 14 calls related to substance use — higher than the average of 10.5 substance calls per week so far this year.

WECOSS is a collaborative strategy involving the efforts of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Windsor Regional Hospital, Essex-Windsor EMS, Erie Shores HealthCare, and all Windsor-Essex policing organizations.

Anyone with information related to the recent spike in opioid overdoses is encouraged to contact the health unit at 519-258-2146.

Those experiencing mental health or substance-related crises are encouraged to call the crisis hotline at 519-973-4435.