Highest ever monthly total for illicit drug deaths

Jul 16, 2020 | 1:06 PM

For the second straight month, British Columbia has recorded the highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths ever.

The B.C. Coroner’s Service says there were 175 drug-related deaths in June, surpassing the previous monthly high of 171 in May 2020.

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people who use drugs, as it has all British Columbians, and access to key harm reduction services has been a challenge and social networks are smaller.

“For those using substances, opioids or otherwise, please make sure you use only in the presence of someone who will call for immediate help if you need it, use at an overdose prevention or supervised consumption site, and have your drugs checked before using, if you can. The drug supply in our province is highly toxic and the risk of using alone is too high. Buddying up could save your life,” Lapointe said.

The chief coroner also encouraged clinicians to support those who are at risk of overdose because of the toxic drug supply.

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“The risks of the illicit market are unmanageable, and access to safe supply for those with this medical condition is essential to save lives. We are monitoring for the presence of hydromorphone in post-mortem toxicity results and have seen no evidence of a link between increased prescriptions and the increase in deaths. It is clear this is not just an opioid epidemic, with cocaine and methamphetamine/amphetamine detected in many drug deaths we investigate. However, we do know that illicit fentanyl remains the most significant driver in the tragic number of deaths our communities are experiencing.”

There have been 728 illicit drug deaths to date in 2020 in B.C., and the number of deaths in each health authority is at or near the highest monthly totals ever recorded.

Interior Health has recorded 115 illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2020 through the end of June, compared to 139 for all of 2019.

The Okanagan has had 52 drug-related deaths in 2020, compared to 84 for all of 2019.

There has been 26 illicit drug deaths in Kelowna this year (33 in all of 2019), and 25 in Kamloops (26).

The numbers for Vernon were not provided.

“Today’s report clearly shows us that the tragedy of overdose deaths from the toxic street drug supply in B.C. continues to escalate. While much effort has been made to reduce harm, remove stigma and provide the care that people living with addiction need, the impacts of the pandemic have made the situation dire for too many,” Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said. “We remain focused on this critical work and will not let up. For the families who have lost loved ones, please know we too feel your loss. These are our brothers and sisters, our neighbours, our community members. All of us must reach out and let people who use drugs know they are not alone and there is help.”

Click here to read the illicit drug overdose death report.

by Pete McIntyre

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