The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit admits it reported inaccurate numbers for opioid-related deaths for 2015.
A report published back in March indicated 43 people died from opioid use — but the actual number is 24.
The original number of 43 was two times greater than the provincial rate and showed an alarming increase of nearly 190% over an eight-year span.
Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says information provided by the Office of the Chief Coroner inadvertently counted the City of Windsor deaths (19) twice before factoring in the deaths in Essex County (5).
He says there is still an opioid problem in Windsor-Essex.
"The magnitude of the problem especially when it comes to the deaths may not be as severe as we initially thought so that will be the only change but everything else still points out that we still have a significant number of higher users of opioid in our community and we need to take action to address that problem," says Dr. Ahmed.
The March report stated there were 382 opioid-related visits to emergency departments, with 43 people dying.
Men aged 20-44 made up nearly half of the patients.
The report also said opioids were given to nearly 28,000 people in Windsor-Essex through the Ontario Drug Benefit in 2015.