NH continues to see highest rate of illicit drug deaths, B.C. reports highest number of drug deaths in a month

VICTORIA—The latest report from the B.C. Coroners Service, for the month of May, shows that Northern Health continues to lead in having the highest rate of illicit drug deaths.

According to the report the Northern Health Authority sees 32 deaths per 100,000 individuals, making it the highest number of deaths per Health Authority. Provincially, May saw 170 deaths related to illicit drugs, marking the highest monthly total ever in B.C. The 170 deaths surpass the previous reported high of 161 deaths in December of 2016. It also marks a 93 per cent increase over the number of deaths in May of 2019, and a 44 per cent increase in the number of deaths in April of 2020.

“It is both sad and deeply frustrating to see the number of illicit drug deaths reach a new high in B.C. four years after the declaration of a public health emergency.”— Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner

“We still know that illicit drug toxicity death rates in B.C. remain the highest for any jurisdiction in Canada, and every region in B.C. has been impacted. That said, were it not for the dedicated efforts taken to date, the death toll would be higher. We must continue to build on further access to safe supply in B.C. and for a regulated, evidence-based, supportive treatment and recovery system as important pillars in preventing future deaths,” continued Lapointe.