Image Credit: CFJC Today file photo

By Dylana Kneeshaw

BC OVERDOSE STATISTICS

B.C.’s illicit drug death count in 2020 surpasses overdose deaths for all of 2019

Sep 23, 2020 | 10:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a stark reminder of B.C.’s other public health emergency. The B.C. Coroners Service is reporting 1,068 illicit drug deaths across British Columbia this year. The figure surpasses the number of deaths recorded for all of 2019.

The latest data today (Sept. 23) shows there has been a slight decrease in the monthly amount of illicit drug overdose deaths in the province, with 147 deaths reported in August. The August data is down 16 per cent from July – when 170 illicit drug overdose deaths were recorded.

However, the rates are still 71 per cent higher than the number of deaths recorded in August last year (86). It also marks the sixth consecutive month with over 100 illicit drug toxicity fatalities recorded.

In Kamloops, there have been 36 illicit drug overdose deaths between January 1 and August 31 2020 – an increase of four from the last reporting period in July.

Image: BC Coroners Service

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The Coroners Service report also notes an increase in the number of cases with extreme fentanyl concentrations. From April to August in 2020, about 14 per cent of illicit drug fatalities showed extreme concentrations of fentanyl, compared to 8 per cent from January 2019 to March 2020.

Alongside the fatal incidents, B.C. Emergency Health Services says the number of non-fatal overdose instances has increased significantly. There have been nearly 7,500 overdose calls throughout B.C this summer, which is the highest number of overdose related calls ever recorded in a three-month stretch.