Despite every health authority in B.C. reporting a one-month drop in the number of illicit drug overdose deaths, the numbers have continued to surge past the 1,100 mark in 2017.
Updated statistics released by the BC Coroners Service on Thursday, Nov. 9 point to 1,103 overdose deaths as of Sept. 30. Eighty overdose deaths were reported province-wide in September, representing a 31 per cent increase from September 2016. By this time last year, 607 deaths were reported.
More than 80 per cent of all illicit drug overdose deaths (914) had fentanyl detected, an increase of 147 per cent over the same period in 2016. Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines were found to be mixed with fentanyl in most incidents.
Carfentanil was found in 37 suspected overdose deaths between June and September.
In comparison to numbers from 2007, overdose deaths have quadrupled in Vancouver this year.
The 19 to 59 age demographic is the most affected, with 91 per cent of all deaths falling within that group. Four out of five deaths are men.
The coroners’ report points to more overdose deaths — an average of six per day — happening in the five days following income assistance payments than in all other days of the month this year. Fridays see the highest number of overdose deaths per week across B.C.
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths at 37.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
The overdose death toll in Vancouver sits at 281 as of Sept. 30. Twenty-eight overdose deaths were reported in Vancouver Coastal Health in August, compared to 25 one month later. Each of B.C.’s five regional health authorities saw more overdose deaths in August compared to September. Overdose deaths linked specifically to fentanyl have consistently, albeit marginally, decreased in Vancouver Coastal Health since May — 27 that month, 26 in June, 24 in July and August and 21 in September.
Nine out of every 10 deaths occurred indoors, with more than half happening in private residences. No deaths occurred at any supervised consumption site or at any of the drug overdose prevention sites.
