A total of 247 deaths were reported among individuals experiencing homelessness in BC in 2021, according to a new preliminary report from the Coroners’ Service.
That marks a 75 percent increase over the number of deaths reported in 2020, and a 696 percent increase compared with 2012.
Illicit drug toxicity was the leading cause of deaths in 2021, responsible for 195, forming a direct connection with the on-going toxic drug crisis.
Just 8 percent of reported deaths came from the North, this is mostly due to lower population levels.
Previous Coroners’ Service reports show that, in general, the North experiences the highest rate of illicit drug overdose deaths.
72 percent of reported deaths came from those aged 30 to 59, and 83 percent of the people listed on the report were male.
A total of 1,197 deaths have been reported among the homeless population since 2012, according to the report.
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