'We see one or two patients a week': Windsor-Essex opioid deaths surpass previous records

A total of 48 people died of opioid-related causes in Windsor-Essex throughout 2018, according to figures published by Public Health Ontario.

Compared to 2017 when 36 people died of opioid-related deaths, 2018's figures represent an approximately 33 per cent increase.

According to Public Health Ontario, four people died in October, eight in November and four more in December:

Dr. Wajid Ahmed with WECHU said they look at the data to determine trends — the 2018 deaths are mostly males between 24 and 45.

"Then we can cater our messaging and target them to make sure they're not dying," said Ahmed. 

Other data tells the health unit that most of these deaths are accidental overdoses, and the drug involved is not usually a pharmaceutical grade opioid.

"These alerts are important for people, to know where they're buying their drugs from and if they continue to choose to use drugs, to use it safely," said Ahmed. 

Provincial data shows most opioid-related deaths are happening alone and in a private dwelling. One in 10 happen to those identified as homeless.

Ahmed hopes the health unit can start to gather local-level data for the same kind of information. 

In the emergency department

Dr. Don Levy, medical director of the Ouellette Campus Emergency Department said he's seen a trending increase in visits related to opioids.

"We see one or two patients per week for opioid overdoses," said Levy. "We see 10 to 15 patients per day requesting help for addiction issues, at both campuses."

Levy said fentanyl is the most common drug related to overdoses. 

"The fentanyl I think in the community is not a local product and it's not from medical prescriptions," said Levy. "The sources they're getting it from I think are created, brought in by people who are selling drugs."

According to Levy, there's "clearly" ongoing work to do in dealing with drug use in the city. He pointed to the rapid access treatment centre through the Erie St. Clair LHIN as one method. 

"Community-coordinated efforts are important for addressing addiction issues," said Levy. "Street health, public health ... These are useful tools for the community. We need to make our efforts moreso, so we can help people who truly need the help."

Supervised injection sites

Windsor is one of a number of large Ontario cities without an approved injection site. In April, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, said the city is likely months away from applying for a supervised injection site.

Outgoing police chief Al Frederick is a noted opponent of supervised injection sites. He''s also a critic of providing police officers with naloxone, a drug which can be used to prevent the effects of opioids.

Frederick has repeatedly maintained that the administration of naloxone is a medical procedure that's not part of an officer's mandate.

Chief Al Frederick stands firmly against officers carrying naloxone

5 years ago

Duration 0:40

Outgoing Windsor police chief Al Frederick isn't changing his stance on officers carrying naloxone kits — he's against the idea.

"So when we're engaged with something like that … we're not doing something else in relation to public safety," said Frederick, during an open house held in honour of his retirement Tuesday.

"We have to take a hard look from a community perspective on what we want our police officers doing each and everyday."

Ahmed said there's not one single solution that will address the crisis.

"We need all hands on deck."

Public Health Ontario continuously updates its numbers, so the current data is subject to change.