Flanked by health officials and police, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced a new local strategy to deal with opioid use in the City of Windsor.
Mayor Dilkens released details of the plan at a media conference Friday.
Dilkens says the main goal of the strategy is to create long-term solutions for what’s becoming a major community safety and policing issue in the city. There were 24 deaths related to opioid use in 2015, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
A study also shows opioid use in Windsor in 2015 was higher than the provincial average.
The health unit will be doing a needs assessment to help develop the strategy -- thanks to a $250,000 grant from the provincial government.
But officials say they are not prepared to introduce safe injection sites.
As part of the research, the health unit will be seeking data about the prescription of opioids.
The Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (WECHC) has committed to investing $20,000 through its Street Health Site to mount Sharps’ Container Receptacles and monitor them regularly in addition to distributing Harm Reduction Supplies.
