11 opioid overdoses in a week in Windsor-Essex

A recentincrease in the number of opioid-related emergency department visits and calls to EMShaveprompted an alertfrom the Windsor-Essex Community Opioid & Substance Strategy (WECOSS).

The group says there were 11 opioid overdoses recorded, eight of which involved fentanyl, betweenJuly 28 and Aug. 3.

"These values exceed our two and five-year historical averages for the current time-frame in question," WECOSS said in a media release.

Nine of the opioid overdoses were reported by Windsor Regional Hospital, and the remaining two by Erie Shores Healthcare.

The notification system also identified 18 substance-use-related EMS calls, all of which were made over seven consecutive days.

Seven non-opioid overdoses, all involving fentanyl,were also reported by Windsor Regional Hospital during the same timeframe.