Overdose alert issued for Windsor-Essex

The public health unit in Windsor-Essex is warning of a recentincrease hospital invisits due to use of opioids.

During the week that started on June 21, there were 18 emergency department visits related to substances, including three fentanyl overdoses.

Most of the other visits, which were not classified as overdoses, also involved fentanyl, with one related to heroin.

"Additionally, on a single day (June 27), there were a total of eight substance use-related [emergency department]visits flagged by the system, fourof which were overdoses, alongside 15 EMS calls received between June 24and June 27," the warning from theWindsor-Essex Community Overdose and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) issued Saturday states.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for Windsor and Essex County, has previously saidthat thepandemic has impactedthose with substance use and mental health problems more severely.

The region saw a record348 overdoses last year, and 64 people died.

The public health unit is looking to set up a supervised consumption siteand recently had sought publicfeedback on two potential locations in downtown Windsor.