By Greg Fry

Overdose deaths

Illicit overdose deaths claimed 40 lives in P.G. the first 7 months of 2022

Sep 15, 2022 | 10:17 AM

VICTORIA — Drug overdose deaths continue to devastate the province.

The BC Coroners Service says 192 lives were lost in British Columbia this July, a 31 per cent increase over the month before.

It brings the death total to just under 1,300 the first half of this year, which equates to 6.2 deaths per day.

The highest rates of death are in the Northern Health region where 95 people have died so far this year. Of those 95 deaths, 40 were in Prince George.

“The street drug supply continues to be terribly, increasingly toxic. In the first months of 2020, the concentration of fentanyl detected in illicit drug deaths was between 4% and 8%. In July 2022, it increased to 23%,” says Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson.

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“That is why we continue to expand much-needed harm-reduction services, particularly safe supply and inhalation overdose prevention sites, and we are leading the country on decriminalization of people who use drugs.

“There is more to do. I am committed to continuing to expand and evolve our government’s response to this public-health emergency to turn the tide and save lives.”

Trevor Halford, Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, extended his condolences and also took a swipe at the provincial government for not doing enough to address the crisis.

“We are in dire need of a comprehensive strategy to approach this crisis that is coherent and encompasses the entire province. When any British Columbian reaches out, they should immediately be able to get the help they need.

“The NDP needs to change their approach to this crisis and start taking significant and effective action. Lives need to be saved, and this tragic trend must be stopped.”