By Greg Fry

Drug deaths

April overdose deaths claim at least 161 lives in B.C.

Jun 9, 2022 | 10:50 AM

VICTORIA — April was another deadly month for overdose deaths in BC with at least 161 lives lost.

The BC Coroners Service says that works out to 5.4 deaths per day. While men have historically accounted for nearly 80% of overdose deaths, more than 26% of those who died in April were female.

So far this year in Prince George, overdose deaths have claimed 27 lives.

By Health Service Delivery Area, the highest rates of death in 2022 have been recorded in Vancouver, Thompson Cariboo, Northern Interior, Fraser East and Northwest, which is evidence that the damage inflicted by the toxic drug supply is being experienced in all corners of the province.

Illicit drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia.

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Additional key preliminary findings are below. Data is subject to change as additional toxicology results are received:

* By health authority, in 2022, the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths have been in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (236 and 197 deaths, respectively), making up 60% of all such deaths during this period.

* By health authority, in 2022, the highest rates of death have been in Northern Health (58 deaths per 100,000 individuals) and Vancouver Coastal Health (47 per 100,000).

* The provincewide rate of death is 41 per 100,000 individuals in 2022.

* By local health area, in 2022, the highest rates of death have been in Lillooet, Mission, Cariboo/Chilcotin, Merritt and Alberni/Clayoquot.

* In 2022, 84% of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred inside (57% in private residences and 27% in other residences including social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, hotels and other indoor locations) and 14% occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks, etc.

* The detection rate of benzodiazepines rapidly increased from 15% of samples in July 2020 to 45% of samples in April 2022.

* Between July 2020 and April 2022, etizolam was found in 40% of illicit drug toxicity deaths that have undergone expedited toxicological testing. Etizolam is a benzodiazepine analogue and non-opioid sedative that does not respond to naloxone and creates life-saving challenges for first responders.

* Analysis of post-mortem toxicology results shows no indication that prescribed safe supply is contributing to illicit drug deaths regionally or provincewide.