B.C. records spike in number of overdose deaths from illicit drugs in November
VICTORIA — The annual number of fatalities from illicit drug overdoses in British Columbia reached 755 by the end of November, causing health officials to speculate whether an even stronger drug like the elephant tranquilizer carfentanil is now behind the unceasing death toll.
Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said Monday that people are dying with needles stuck in their arms and naloxone kits to reverse overdoses at their sides.
Provisional data shows 128 people died as a result of illicit drug use in November, an average of more than four a day. The previous high for a single month was 82 in January.
“Why, with all the new harm-reduction measures in place, are we still losing so many members of our communities to illicit drugs, and why was the loss so much higher in November?” Lapointe asked at a news conference.