Northeast B.C. reports six toxic drug overdoses in 2023

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In the first five months of 2023, six people from northeast B. C. have died from toxic drug overdoses, according to a recent B.C. Coroners Service report.

There were two illicit drug overdose deaths were reported in Northeast B.C. in March, three in April, and one in May. No deaths were reported in the region in January and February.

Deaths in the region have been on a slight downward trend since 2020, when the region recorded the highest number of fatal overdoses at 32.

In 2021, the region reported 30 overdoses and 27 in 2022. Last year, the area recorded the most drug toxicity deaths in April and October, with three deaths each month.

Northern Health as a whole reported seven drug deaths in May and 74 in total in the first five months of 2023.

The highest number of fatal overdoses reported in the north since 2012 was 183 deaths in 2022.

By Health Authority, in May 2023, the highest drug death rates were in Vancouver Coastal Health (58.7 deaths per 100,000), followed by Northern Health (57.9 deaths per 100,000 people).

The Vancouver Coastal Authority has had the most overdose deaths so far in 2023, reporting 313.

The coroners service said 176 B.C. residents died from unregulated drug deaths in May.

The number of overdoses from illicit drugs in May 2023 equals about 5.7 deaths per day across the province.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the recent report show that the drug crisis continues to be driven by illicit fentanyl.

“Expedited testing in 2023 is positive for fentanyl in almost nine out of every 10 results, nearly double the positivity rate of methamphetamine and cocaine, the next most commonly identified substances,” said Lapointe.

“As long as people are reliant on the profit-driven unregulated market to access the substances they need, their lives are at risk.”

Just over 1,000 people have lost their lives to toxic drugs so far this year, with 70 per cent being between the ages of 30 and 59. The coroners service said the 1,018 deaths this year is a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the number of deaths reported during the same time in 2022.

Last year was the deadliest year on record, with 2,340 residents dying from the toxic drug supply.

Unregulated drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death in British Columbia for people aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined, said the coroners service.

At least 12,264 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs in the seven years since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016.