The number of illicit drug-related deaths in B.C. this year has already surpassed last year’s total, according to the BC Coroners Service.
From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30 of this year, 555 people died from drug overdoses – compared to 508 deaths for all of 2015.
Fentanyl was a “major contributor” to the high number of deaths this year, according to the BC Coroners Service. More than 300 of the overdose deaths involved the potent narcotic – more than triple the number of fentanyl-detected deaths for the same period in 2015.
Victoria, Vancouver and Surrey have seen the highest rates of illicit drug overdoses out of any B.C. cities from 2007-2016.
In Victoria alone, deaths have jumped by more than double – there have been 44 fatal overdoses in the capital city so far this year compared to just 18 for all of 2015. It’s the biggest increase in overdose deaths out of the three cities.
The new numbers were revealed a week after Victoria Police confirmed they’d train officers in the use of the potentially life-saving medicine naloxone, which can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
B.C. declared a public health crisis in April over the amount of illicit drug overdoses occurring in the province.
According to the coroners service, illicit drugs include street drugs like heroin, cocaine, MDMA and meth, medications that may not have been prescribed or combinations of the two.
(BC Coroners Service)
