With three more months of data still to come in, the province has eclipsed last year’s totals for fatal drug overdoses.
New data from the BC Coroner’s Service shows 555 people have lost their lives so far this year, up from 508 for the whole of 2015.
However in Northern BC the trend appears to be slowing. Just two deaths last month, after a single in August.
Regardless, 32 people have died in Northern BC this year, which is up from 26 for the whole of 2015. Ten people have died from fentanyl alone in Prince George.
In response to the crises, the provincial government says they have lifted many of the restrictions for naloxone – an opiate overdose antidote. RCMP and the Prince George Fire Department both carry it now. The take home naloxone program has also been expanded.