B.C. sees fourth consecutive month with over 200 illicit drug deaths

Mar 11, 2022 | 10:09 AM Liam Verster

For the fourth month in a row, British Columbia was home to over 200 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths.

The B.C. Coroners Service reported 207 toxic drug deaths in January, which represents a 10 per cent increase over the 188 deaths reported in January of 2021. It does mark a decrease of about five per cent from the 219 deaths in December of 2021, but still represents about 6.7 deaths per day.

It was B.C.’s first January on record with over 200 deaths due to toxic illicit drugs.

The Coroners Service stated that 72 per cent of those dying due to toxic drugs were between the ages of 30 and 59, and that 82 per cent of them were male.

It’s noted that roughly 85 per cent of the deaths occurred inside, with 55 per cent of all deaths happening in a private residence and 30 per cent occurring in other residences such as social and supportive housing, shelters, and hotels.

No deaths were reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.

The Coroners service added that there is no evidence linking prescribed safe supply to any illicit drug deaths in January.

Of the 207 deaths reported in January, 37 of them were reported in the Interior, the third highest figure in the province. Fraser Health had the most deaths with 70, followed by Vancouver Coastal with 57.

Interior Health’s illicit toxic drug death rate per 100,000 people was reported at 53.6, again third in the province after Northern Health’s rate of 74.5 and the 54.2 rate in Vancouver Coastal.

Of the deaths in the Interior, 14 were recorded in the Okanagan, representing a rate of 40.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

The Coroners Service has confirmed with Vernon Matters that two suspected illicit toxic drug deaths are being investigated in Vernon.