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By Veronica Beltran

Coroners service report

Northern Health has highest rate of illicit drug toxicity deaths, says updated report

May 27, 2020 | 10:58 AM

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

The report also shows an average of 3.2 illicit drug toxicity deaths per day in the first four months of the year. “Illicit drug toxicity death rates in B.C. are still the highest for any jurisdiction in Canada. Every region in B.C. has been impacted,” added Lapointe.

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The month of March saw 112 deaths related to illicit drug toxicity, and April saw 117—marking the first time B.C. has recorded more than 100 illicit drug toxicity deaths in back-to-back months since November and December of 2018.

“Recent efforts to improve access to safe supply in B.C. are encouraging, and the BC Coroners Service supports continued enhancement of this critical life-saving measure.”—Lisa Lapointe, Chief Coroner

Lapointe adds that the Coroners Service continues to recommend a regulated, evidence-based, supportive treatment and recovery system in helping prevent future deaths.