By Greg Fry

BC Coroners Service finds ‘cautious optimism’ in latest overdose numbers

Jun 26, 2018 | 11:26 AM

KAMLOOPS — A glimmer of hope in brand new illicit overdose death data in B.C.

New numbers released today by the BC Coroners Service reveal there were 109 suspected deaths in May 2018, a 23 per cent decrease over the number of deaths occurring in May 2017 (141) and a 12 per cent decrease over the number of deaths occurring in April 2018 (124).

However despite the decrease, the number of illicit drug overdose deaths in May 2018 still equates to about 3.5 deaths per day for the month.

“So, we’re cautiously optimistic to see a second month in a row of a downward trend both year-over-year and month-over-month,” says spokesperson Andy Watson. “Obviously still seeing 109 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths is too many.”

As for Kamloops, he says the Tournament Capital is “relatively on pace for the same level of deaths as 2017” with 18 deaths this year to the end of May. There were 39 in all of 2017.

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In the Interior region as a whole, Watson says there have been 102 deaths so far in 2018 which is slightly lower than the pace we saw in 2017 when there were 241 all year.

Watson says some of the main takeaways from the numbers are that 60 per cent of people dying have done so in private residences so far in 2018, and thus he cautions users to use in the company of someone who can administer Naloxone or call 911.

He adds fentanyl continues to be detected in about 80 per cent of illicit drug deaths, which shows the drug supply continues to be toxic in B.C.