By Kate Bouey

Drug deaths drop but fentanyl remains killer

Aug 16, 2019 | 10:50 AM

Fentanyl continues to be the main killer in B.C. overdose deaths although the numbers are falling.

The BC Coroners Service says the illicit drug was detected in more than four of every five illicit drug toxicity deaths both last year and this year.

According to the statistics, 446 fentanyl-related deaths occurred in the province between January to June.

These included 32 deaths in the Okanagan; 10 in Kelowna, nine in Penticton and seven in Vernon where the number has remained static.

Statistics show:

In June 2019, there were 73 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths, a 35 per cent decrease from the number of deaths in June 2018.
There were approximately 2.4 illicit drug toxicity deaths per day in June 2019.
For the first six months of 2019, there were 538 illicit drug toxicity deaths, a decrease of approximately 30 per cent over the same six-month period in 2018 when 763 were reported.
In 2019, 71 per cent of those dying were aged 30 to 59 years. Individuals aged 19 to 59 years have accounted for 89 per cent of all illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2019.
Males accounted for 78 per cent of all suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2019.
By local health area, the rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest in Princeton, Merritt, Vancouver (aggregate), Grand Forks and Hope.
No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption sites or drug overdose prevention sites.

by Kate Bouey