British Columbia’s struggles with the opioid crisis are well known, but that doesn’t make the latest drug overdose death statistics any less startling.
Preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service indicate there were 1,422 suspected drug overdose deaths in 2017, representing a 43% increase from 2016, when there were 993 overdose deaths.
There were significantly fewer deaths, however, in the last four months of 2017 (average of 96.5 deaths per month from September to December) compared with the first eight months of the year (average of 129.5 deaths per month).
Fentanyl Detected in Majority of Cases
Approximately 81% of the suspected illicit drug deaths to date in 2017 had fentanyl detected, up from 67% in 2016.
In most cases, fentanyl was combined with other illicit drugs, most often cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines.
Carfentanil has been detected in 64 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths between June and December of 2017. The majority of deaths continue to occur in private residences.
“In the midst of an epidemic”
“As the coroners’ data show all too clearly, we are still in the midst of a persistent and continuing epidemic of unintentional poisoning deaths,” said provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall. “Through heroic and unprecedented actions, responders on the front lines are daily saving hundreds of lives. But hundreds more are still dying, most often alone and with no-one nearby to act when things go wrong.”
“There is no question that this is a public-health crisis that is impacting people from all walks of life, and we need to continue to work together to help reduce stigma and increase awareness and support for those at risk,” said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.
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