Northern Health has highest rate of illicit drug toxicity deaths, says updated report
VICTORIA—An updated report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province to the end of April found that Northern Health has the highest rate of illicit drug toxicity deaths.
According to the report from the B.C. Coroners Service, the Northern Health Authority has a rate of 28 deaths related to drug toxicity per 100,000 individuals.
Northern Health is followed by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority with 26 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2020. B.C’s overall rate is 22 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2020.
“We remain in a public health emergency.”—Lisa Lapointe, Chief Coroner