There were 127 illicit drug overdose deaths across B.C. last month, according to a report from the B.C. Coroners Service. That number is a slight decrease from last month, but more than double the number from this time last year. Last month an average of four people died every day from an overdose in B.C.
There have been 30 drug overdose deaths in the Nanaimo area this year — already surpassing the 27 reported in 2019. Island Health reported 16 deaths in September, which was a decrease from previous months and the lowest number since February. Vancouver Island has reported 208 deaths in 2020, a substantial increase from the 165 reported last year.
Males represent 80 per cent of the deaths in B.C. in 2020 and 70 per cent of fatal overdoses were people between the age of 30 and 59. Drug overdose rates for both men and women continue to decrease from highs in May, June and July.
Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria have experienced the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths this year. None of the fatalities reported were at supervised consumption sites.
