179 people died from B.C.’s poisoned drug supply in October

At least another 179 lives were lost to B.C.’s toxic drug supply in October, according to preliminary toxicology findings from the BC Coroners Service.

It marks a 14 per cent drop from the number of deaths in October 2021, but a four per cent increase over the month prior, when 172 people fatally overdosed.

In total in 2022 so far, 1,827 people died from toxic drugs. That’s just nine deaths fewer than during the same period last year.

Three of those who died in October were under the age of 19. The majority of other deaths (150) were fairly evenly distributed between those aged 19 to 59. Another 22 people who died were in their 60s and three were in their 70s. The age of the final person is unknown.

By health authority, most October fatal overdoses occurred in Fraser Health (55) and Vancouver Coastal Health (53). A further 28 people died in each of Island Health and Interior Health, and 15 people passed in Northern Health.

The highest death rate continued to be in Vancouver at 74.4 people per 100,000. The next worst were in the Northwest at 67.7 per 100,000, the Northern Interior at 60.4 per 100,000, and Thompson Cariboo at 59.5 per 100,000. The lowest death rates were in Richmond at 13 deaths per 100,000, the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi at 13.2 deaths per 100,000, and the East Kootenays at 16.5 deaths per 100,000.

More to come.

Drugsopioid deathsoverdose