By Sam Bennison

Toxic drugs

BC sees a “significant decrease” in overdose deaths but rates in Prince George remain high

Dec 9, 2024 | 3:18 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— 155 British Columbians have died from toxic drugs in October this year.

Preliminary findings from the BC Coroners Services says that while this is the lowest monthly total since September 2020, the risk of harm and death remain high. They add that this equates to five deaths per day.

Prince George has faced 99 drug deaths since the start of the year up to October. This surpasses the total deaths in 2023 which was 92.

Toxic drugs remain the leading cause of unnatural death for people in BC aged 10-59, However no one under 19 years old died of overdose in October. 50 per cent of the deaths were people between 30 and 49. 22 per cent of the deaths over the course of the month and in 2024 were women.

Throughout the province, 1,925 people have died of overdose in 2024, a nine per cent decrease compared to the first 10 months of 2023 (2,107). The BC Coroners Service are still investigating the reason for the decrease and are working with different organizations to figure it out.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com