This afternoon, local partners with the Windsor Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) met urgently to respond to a recent rise in opioid overdoses in Windsor and Essex County. Similar increases have been seen in similar communities across the province and in nearby communities like Chatham.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol, cannabis, or other substance use, find the right help.
As the opioid crisis in Canada continues to escalate, youth need information to make informed decisions about harm-reduction substance use strategies versus an abstinence only approach.
Rising rates of opioid-related overdose and death continue to be a concern for local health and social services leaders working on the Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy.
In October 2018, after a provincial review of existing Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) and Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS), the Government of Ontario announced its commitment to fund a re-purposed version of the Consumption and Treatments Services (CTS) Program. Consumption and Treatment Services sites provide wrap-around services that connect clients who use drugs to primary care, treatment, and other health and social services; including:
Mental illness can be defined as a condition that is characterized by alterations in mood, thinking, and/or behaviour, and associated with symptoms of significant distress and decreased functioning. There are a wide variety of mental illnesses, ranging from mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, problem gambling, and substance use disorders.
If you or someone you care about is using opioids in any form, it is important to have a Naloxone Nasal Spray kit to prevent injury or death associated with an opioid poisoning (overdose).An opioid poisoning (overdose) is a medical emergency and 9-1-1 should be called any time naloxone is administered. When a person regains consciousness after receiving naloxone, they may become irritable, restless, or exhibit aggressive behaviour. If at anytime you feel your safety is at risk, you should remove yourself from the situation and call for assistance.
As part of the Ontario Harm Reduction Program Enhancement, the ONP has expanded access to free naloxone nasal spray kits for clients who are at high risk of an opioid overdose as well as their friends and family.
Mental health is the capacity to feel, think and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life, realize our own potential, deal with challenges, and contribute to society (Mental Health Commission of Canada).