Northern Health sees dip in illicit drug deaths in May

Over 5.5 people per day on average died from an illicit drug overdose in BC during May.

According to the BC Coroners Service, 176 people passed away from an unregulated drug death.

Northern Health tallied seven fatalities last month, with three of those occurring in Prince George.

So far this year, our health authority has seen 74 toxic drug fatalities – 31 of those are in the northern capital.

“BC Coroners Service findings confirm that this public-health emergency continues to be driven by illicit fentanyl,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

“Expedited testing in 2023 is positive for fentanyl in almost nine out of every 10 results, nearly double the positivity rate of methamphetamine and cocaine, the next most commonly identified substances. As long as people are reliant on the profit-driven unregulated market to access the substances they need, their lives are at risk.”

Northern Health has the second-highest unregulated drug death rate among all the health authorities at 57.9 per 100,000 people – trailing only Vancouver Coastal (58.7).

However, 58% of all toxic drug deaths have been in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions.

Regarding the Health Service Delivery Area, the Northern Interior, which includes PG-Quesnel-Burns Lake and the Robson Valley has the fifth-highest drug toxicity death rate of 66.6– Vancouver (92.2), Northwest (76.7), North Vancouver Island (69.8) and Central Vancouver Island (68.7).

Last year, Northern Health posted 183 drug poisoning fatalities, with 84 of those occurring in Prince George – both record highs.

So far this year, 1,018 people have lost their lives due to the toxic drug supply – 70% of those deaths are between the ages of 30 and 59.

May 2023 was the 32nd consecutive month at least 150 lives were lost to unregulated drugs in B.C.

The 40-49 age grouping has the highest unregulated drug death rate in BC at 82.0 followed by those aged 50-59 (76.9).

Last year 2,340 residents passed away from illicit drug overdoses, making it the deadliest year on record.

Unregulated drug toxicity is now 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.

12,264 British Columbians have died from unregulated drugs since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016.

In addition, the Coroners Service found of the 10,453 toxic drug deaths reported to coroners between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2022, 142 (1.4%) involved youth under 19 years of age.

“We know that young people are not immune from the extreme dangers of the unregulated drug supply,” Lapointe said. “In responding to this health crisis, it is critically important that we heed the recommendations of experts and ensure a robust system of care that includes increased access to timely, evidence-based treatment and recovery services, and to a safer substance supply as an alternative to the toxic black market. A public-health crisis of this magnitude demands a comprehensive response that meets people where they are and provides the services they need to survive.”