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Prince George sees five illicit drug overdose deaths in October, B.C. averaged 5.2 casualties a day

City's year-to-date total reaches 43
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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BC Coroner Chief Lisa Lapointe (left) and Dr. Bonnie Henry (middle). (via Flickr/Province of B.C.)

While COVID-19 continues its rampant pace throughout the province, another ongoing pandemic has sobering news. 

In the latest illicit drug overdose death statistics released by the BC Coroners Service today (Nov. 25), numbers show, in October, B.C. averaged 5.2 deaths per day. 

Prince George saw another five deaths, which bring its 2020 total to 43. The highest recorded for the city was 51 in 2018. 

Since 2010, the northern capital has seen 207 illicit drug overdose deaths. Its lowest number of deaths was 10 years ago when only one was recorded. 

Provincially, there were 162 illicit drug overdose deaths last month which is a 116 per cent increase from October of 2019 (75 deaths) and a 26 per cent increase from September, which saw 129 deaths. 

"͞This is the fifth month this year with more than 160 suspected illicit drug deaths reported to the BC Coroners Service and more than double the number of people who died as a result of a toxic drug supply in October 2019," Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a news release. 

"We are continuing to see record-breaking numbers of people dying in B.C. due to an unsafe drug supply in our province, and it͛s taking a toll on families and communities in this dual health emergency.

"Challenges during COVID-19, such as access to key harm reduction services and the toxic drug supply, including the extreme concentration of illicit fentanyl, are resulting in continuing significant and tragic loss of life across the province. Our hearts go out to those grieving the loss of family members, friends and colleagues."

 

BCCORONERSSERVICE(via BC Coroners Service)

The BC Coroners Service says 128 of the illicit drug deaths last month involved fentanyl. 

Northern Health has the highest death rate per 100,000 individuals in 2020 with 44. 

The highest death rate by local health authority has Prince George third from 2018 to 2020. Hope and Vancouver were first and second respectively. 

Last month, Northern Health currently recorded 10 deaths throughout the entire region. Six of those deaths had fentanyl detected. 

Vancouver has had the most deaths this year with 329 followed by Surrey (167) and Victoria (115). 

"͞The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating effect on the overdose crisis in B.C.," Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry added in the statement. 

"Exacerbating this is the highly toxic drug supply that exists in our communities right now.

"This latest report shows the tragic impact this crisis is having on British Columbians, and this is a problem for all of us. Now more than ever, we must remove the stigma of drug use and remove the shame people feel, which keeps them from seeking help or telling friends and family."

There have been 1,386 overdose deaths in 2020 to date in B.C.