Data released by the BC Coroners Service for July shows the toxic drug crisis caused six more deaths in Prince George last month.
The total number of deaths from unregulated drugs in Prince George so far this year is 45.
Northern Health has seen 107 deaths in 2023, including 64 deaths in the northern interior, 11 in the northeast, and 32 in the northwest.
Provincially, for the 13th consecutive month, more than 190 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic, unregulated drug supply.
Between January and July 2023, at least 1,455 deaths were attributed to toxic drugs, the largest number ever reported by the BC Coroners Service in the first seven months of a calendar year.
The provincewide death rate stands at 46.2 per 100,000 residents, with the Vancouver Coastal (56.7), Island (52.4) and Interior (50.7) health authorities all posting death rates higher than ever previously recorded.
The Northern Health Authority (59.8) continues to report the highest rate of death in the province.
The BC Coroners Service says that while the highest number of deaths have occurred in urban centres like Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria, the most impacted health service delivery areas in 2023 also include Central Vancouver Island, Northern Interior, Northwest and Greater Nanaimo.
The number of unregulated drug deaths in July 2023 equates to about 6.4 deaths per day.
"I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia's toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating," said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.
"We are continuing to experience record numbers of deaths provincewide because of the toxic drug supply. The unregulated illicit market is highly unpredictable and continues to put thousands of lives at risk each month. Despite recommendations for the urgent expansion of a safer drug supply, very few have access to a stable, lower-risk alternative."
