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The BC Coroners Service is reporting that 333 lives were lost to toxic drugs in August and September of this year.
A record number of deaths were recorded in August and September with 181 and 152 deaths, respectively.
This raises the total number of deaths to 1,534 in the first nine months of 2021.
“Once again, we are reporting record numbers of deaths in our province due to the toxic illicit drug supply,” says Lisa Lapointe, BC’s chief coroner.
The province-wide death rate stands at 39.4 per 100,000 residents – nearly double the rate in 2016 when the public health emergency into substance-related harms was first declared.
September 2021 is the twelfth consecutive month in which at least 150 people have died due to toxic drugs.
The report explains that an average of 170 British Columbians have been lost each month this year – or about 5 deaths per day.
The coroners report also adds that 71% of those who have died due to drug toxicity were between 30 and 59 and the majority were male.
By Health Service Delivery Area, in 2021, the highest rates were in Vancouver, Thompson Cariboo, Northwest, North Vancouver Island and Fraser East.
“Our province is in the sixth year of this public health emergency, and the death rate due to toxic drugs has never been higher,” adds Lapointe.
Toxicology results are consistent with previous reporting and indicate that illicit drug supply in BC continues to be “both volatile and increasingly toxic.”
Fentanyl has now been detected in over 80% of all illicit drug deaths this year while carfentanil has been detected in 137 deaths – more than double the 65 carfentanil-related deaths recorded last year,
Cocaine, methamphetamine/amphetamine and other opioids are also present in toxicological reports.
“The Province’s application to the federal government to decriminalize possession of illicit drugs for personal use is an essential step to address the drug toxicity crisis,” explains Lapointe.
"Criminalizing those who use substances has done nothing to address this complex health issue and has resulted in greater suffering and marginalization.”
Thumbnail photo credit: 123rf
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