More than 15,000 people have died of toxic drugs in B.C. since 2016
B.C. Coroners Service reported at least 192 people died of drug toxicity in July; highest rates still in north
The total number of deaths caused by illicit, toxic drugs in British Columbia since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016 has now surpassed 15,000.
On Friday, the B.C. Coroners Service reported at least 192 people died of drug toxicity in July, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 1,365.
"These losses impact people far beyond our province, and we must not forget these are sons and daughters, parents and grandparents, co-workers and teammates," Chief Coroner Jatinder Baidwan said in a news release.
Toxic drugs continue to cause more deaths in B.C. than murder, vehicle crashes, suicides and natural disasters combined. In April 2016, the skyrocketing number of deaths spurred the province to declare a public health emergency.
Fentanyl has been detected in more than 80 per cent of overdose deaths since 2017, according to the coroners service.
In a statement, B.C.'s Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the province will continue to expand access to treatment and recovery programs for drug users who need it.
"The people we've lost are more than just numbers on a page," Whiteside said. "They are our family members, our neighbours, our friends — people who should have had more time, more laughter and more chances to make memories with those who loved them."
The number of deaths in July represents a 15 per cent decrease from the 226 deaths reported in July 2023.
The rate at which people are dying from drugs this year is lower than it has been compared to the previous three years, according to the coroners' service.
So far this year, the annualized rate of death is 41 people per 100,000 residents — down from 46.6 last year, 44.5 in 2022 and 43.9 in 2021.
But this year's rate still equates to about six people dying of toxic drugs every day, Baidwan said.
The greatest number of deaths this year happened in Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria, but the highest per capita rates of drug death are in the Northern Health (75.7 deaths per 100,000 people) and Island Health (53.4 per 100,000) regions.