By the numbers for British Columbia’s overdose crisis

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s chief coroner released overdose figures for 2022, showing 2,272 residents died from toxic drugs last year. Lisa Lapointe says drug toxicity remains the leading cause of unnatural death in B.C., and is second only to cancers in terms of years of life lost.

Here are some of the numbers connected to the overdose crisis: 

189: Average number of deaths per month last year. 

6.2: Average deaths per day. 

At least 11,171: Deaths attributed to drug toxicity since the public health emergency was declared in April 2016. 

70: Percentage of the dead between 30 and 59 years old.

79: Percentage of those who died who were male.  

65: Children and youth who have died in the last two years. 

82: Percentage of the deaths where the toxic opioid fentanyl was involved. 

73,000: People in B.C. who have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder. 

8.8: The rate that First Nations women are dying, as a multiple of the general population’s rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2023. 

The Canadian Press