Opioid overdose alerts in Windsor

Over the first week of November, 11 people were admitted to area emergency departments in Windsor-Essex.

According to the Windsor-Essex County Opioid and Substance Strategy, this is double the average of overdoses for the area.

In an alert issued on Nov. 1, five of the cases were confirmed to be opioid related. EMS administered naloxone in seven cases to reverse an overdose from substance abuse. These numbers exceed the threshold limit for overdose/intoxication/substance (mis)use-related emergency department visits.

Manager of Epidemiology and Evaluation at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Ramsey D’Souza, said that the limit is determined from a two-week moving average as circumstances in the community change. The threshold limit is approximately two times the average. During the period in the alert, the average was at 2.86. Six cases triggered the alert.

The alert also stated that the number of EMS Opioid Surveillance reports have been consistent since the cases were initially reported on Nov. 1.

On the WECOSS website, they have five steps to respond to an overdose listed:

1. Shout their name & shake their shoulders
2. Call 911 if they’re unresponsive
3. Give naloxone: one spray into nostril or inject one vial or ampoule into arm or leg
4. Perform rescue breathing and/or chest compressions
5. If there is no improvement, repeat steps three & four and stay with them

naloxone or Narcan® is a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid. It is available at pharmacies without a prescription and at no cost at a number of locations across the province.