The number of suspected drug overdose deaths in the province continues to rise.
According to the latest numbers released by the BC Coroners Service Thursday morning, there were 161 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths in the province in March, the second highest monthly total to date and significantly more than February’s total of 102.
The highest number of deaths attributed to an illicit drug overdose was 162 in December 2016.
Preliminary data indicates that through the first three months of 2018 fentanyl was detected in post-mortem testing in 83 per cent of the deaths. Seventy per cent of those who died were between the ages of 19 and 49, and 82 per cent were males.
The majority (90.5 per cent) of overdose deaths occurred indoors. The coroners’ service also noted that no deaths have been reported at supervised consumption sites or drug overdose prevention sites.
Vancouver has seen 102 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths so far this year, an average of 34 per month — that number of up from 2017, which had an average of 30.5 deaths per month.
More than 1,400 British Columbians died due to illicit drug overdose in 2017, 366 in Vancouver.
In April, the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services recorded the highest number of overdose calls in 17 months. A suspected toxic batch of drugs is believed to have contributed to the spike in calls. The week spanning April 23 to 29 saw 207 reported overdose calls, a 74 per cent increase with April 28 seeing the highest number of calls in one day since the beginning of last year.
