More than 1,600 British Columbians have lost their lives to illicit drug overdoses through August, keeping 2023 on pace to break last year’s record.
According to the most recent preliminary report from the Coroners Service, the on-going epidemic has taken 1,645 lives through eight months.
Despite seeing the fewest overdose deaths in a month since last June, August still recorded at least 174 deaths linked to the toxic supply.
Northern Health continues to see the highest rate of deaths among all health authorities at 58.2 per 100,000 residents so far in 2023.
In the Northwest that rate jumps to 61.4 per 100,000 and again to 98.7 per 100,000 in the Terrace local health area.
Fentanyl has been detected in over 82 percent of deaths, with smoking being the primary consumption method in over two thirds of deaths.
Comments