At least 2,039 lives have been lost to unregulated drugs in the first 10 months of 2023 in British Columbia, including 20 lives in the East Kootenay, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service.

Fourteen lives have been lost in Cranbrook, including one each in Fernie, Creston and Golden.

October was the 37th consecutive month in which at least 150 deaths are suspected to have been caused by the toxic-drug supply were reported to the BC Coroners Service. The 189 lives lost in October equate to approximately 6.1 lives lost per day. Consistent with historical trends, about seven of every 10 decedents in 2023 were between 30 and 59 years of age, and more than three-quarters were male.

The toxic drug crisis continues to devastate communities of all sizes throughout British Columbia. While the largest number of deaths reported in 2023 has been in urban centres, such as Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria, the health authority with the highest rate of death in 2023 is Northern Health, with 61 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The province-wide death rate for the year is 45 per 100,000 residents, the highest such number ever recorded, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and BC Coroners Service noted in a joint media release.

Toxicological testing confirms that the unregulated drug supply in the province remains dangerous and volatile. Illicit fentanyl and its analogues are present in 85% of expedited test results, often in combination with other opioids and/or stimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine.

The BC Coroners Service continues to monitor closely for the presence of prescribed safer-supply medications in its testing, with hydromorphone detected in approximately four per cent of tests.

Earlier in November 2023, Interior Health issued a drug advisory warning people who use drugs that some substances being advertised as hydromorphone on the black market actually contain isotonitazine, a drug as dangerously potent as fentanyl. The only way to be certain about the substances contained in a product that is purchased illicitly is through a drug-checking service.

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in British Columbia for people aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined. The lives of at least 13,317 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs since the public-health emergency was first declared in April 2016.

Additional key preliminary findings are below. Data is subject to change as additional toxicology results are received:

* The number of deaths in October 2023 represents a nine per cent decrease from the number of deaths in October 2022 (208) and a seven per cent increase over the number of deaths in September 2023 (177).

* By health service delivery area, in 2023, the highest rates were in Vancouver, Northern Interior, Central Vancouver Island, North Vancouver Island and Thompson Cariboo Shuswap.

* By local health area, in 2023 (January-August), the highest rates were in Vancouver – Centre North, North Thompson, Greater Nanaimo, Vancouver – City Centre, and Terrace.

* In 2023, 80% of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside (48% in private residences and 32% in other inside residences, such as social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters and hotels and other indoor locations) and 19% occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks, etc.

* Smoking is the most common mode of consumption in 2023 with 65% showing evidence of smoking, followed by injection (14%), nasal insufflation (14%) and oral (4%).

* There is no indication that prescribed safer supply is contributing to unregulated drug deaths.

See the unregulated drug death report (data to Oct. 31, 2023).

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

Article Share