The overdose crisis continues to ripple communities across BC with the coroners reporting 176 lives lost to toxic illicit drugs in April.
Today’s numbers represent one of the highest monthly totals on record, according to the BC Coroners Service.
The total number of suspected illicit drug deaths in BC this year now stands at 680 and the month of April saw a 43% increase over the number of deaths reported last April.
“Once again, we’re reminded that the scale of this public health emergency is truly unprecedented,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to every family in the province that is experiencing the unimaginable pain of sudden and unexpected loss. Every life lost to toxic drugs in our province is a profound tragedy. Every one of them mattered, and every one of them will be missed.”
This is the 14th consecutive month that more than 100 people died of suspected overdoses across the province.
Fentanyl has been detected in 86% of deaths this year, while carfentanil, a more potent analogue of fentanyl, has been found in 62 samples in 2021, almost as many as were detected in all of 2020 (65).
The number of overdose deaths in April was about 5.9 deaths per day, with men accounting for about 79% of those deaths.
Victoria, Vancouver, and Surrey continue to experience the highest number of deaths.
