2023: BC Coroners report shows 53 unregulated drug deaths in Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE-The BC Coroners Service released it’s monthly report Monday showing that across BC there have been 1645 unregulated drug deaths in 2023. The highest rates of death have been in Northern Heath with Prince George having 53 unregulated drug deaths since the start of the year.

174 suspected unregulated drug deaths occurred this August. A decrease of last years, August with 190 drug deaths across BC. Illicit fentanyl has still been a major issue being present in 85% of cases.

Most deaths across the Interior have occurred indoors with just over two thirds occurring in private residence as smoking remains the dominant mode of consumption with almost 60 per cent of overdoses being from an inhaled substance. This continues the trend first observed in 2017 and the BC Coroners Service notes the need for safe spaces where people can practice safe smoking.

A majority of those dying have been aged between 30-59 and 78 per cent have identified as male. Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death for persons aged 10-59 and has taken the lives of at least 12,929 British Columbians since the public-heath emergency was declared in 2016.