Health unit warns of spike in Windsor opioid cases

The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) has issued an alert due to an increase in emergency department visits related to opioid usage.

The alert, a result of a surveillance and monitoring system, notified the health unit of 11 cases admitted to area emergency departments between Oct. 30 and 31. Of the 11 cases, five were confirmed to be opioid related. Dr. Wajid Ahmed, with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, said the system is important for keeping the public safe.

“It makes the community agencies that are involved directly with these individuals aware and then they put up notifications in their organization and they’re actively asking for those individuals to be mindful of the substances that are circulating in the community,” said Ahmed.

The system was put in place to notify WECOSS of deviations in the average of opioid related cases, which then allows the health unit to alert the public.

“It’s an average. I can’t give an exact number, but 11 cases in two days is more than two standard deviation for the last two weeks moving average. So that is why it triggers the alert,” said Ahmed.

The average of opioid overdoses changes as weeks pass, but Dr. Ahmed said that 11 cases in two days is alarming and the focus of alerting the public is to inform of the risks.

“All these measures in place, if people are extra careful, we hope that they may not end up overdosing, and then they can protect themselves from any of these harms,” said Ahmed.

An Ontario law, The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, keeps individuals who seek help safe in the event of an overdose, and the health unit urges those who use or are often near those using, to carry naloxone to reduce the risk of injury or death.

If you or someone you know is experience a substance-related crisis, contact the local crisis line at 519-973-4435, call 911, or go to your closest hospital emergency department.