Drug death tolls continued to climb in July

The local, regional and provincial toxic drug death tolls continued to climb in July.

The B.C. Coroner’s Service reported five deaths suspected to be linked to illicit toxic substances in July.

The deaths brought the year-to-date fatal overdose death toll in Vernon up to 24.

The Coroner’s Service report also indicated there were six deaths in Kelowna, bringing the city’s death-toll to 47 as of July 31.

The deaths were part of 13 in the Okanagan, 35 in the Interior and 192 in all of B.C.

The first six months of 2024 have seen 110 suspected overdose deaths in the Okanagan, 226 deaths in the Interior, and 1,365 in British Columbia.

“Unregulated toxic drugs continue to cause more loss of life in British Columbia than homicides, motor-vehicle incidents, suicides and natural disease combined, tragically equating to about 6.2 people losing their lives each day,” Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, B.C.’s chief coroner, stated.

“The unregulated drug market is volatile and continues to put people’s lives at grave risk each month.”

The Coroner’s Service report stated the provincial death total in July was down 15 per cent from the figure recorded in the same month of 2023.

Of the people who have lost their lives to illicit toxic drugs this year, 69 per cent were between the ages of 30 and 59, and that 73 per cent of them were male. It was also noted that 81 per cent of victims of illicit drug poisonings this year were inside when they died, with 48 per cent occurring in private residences.

Fentanyl continued to be the leading substance found in postmortem toxicology testing (85 per cent), followed by cocaine (48%), methamphetamine (44%) and bromazolam (35%). The Coroner’s Service noted hydromorphone was identified in three per cent of the deaths.

There has only ever been one death in an Overdose Prevention Site, which occurred in 2022.

“As we mark International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, we reflect on this year’s theme, Together We Can, it reminds us that it’s through collective effort, we will change the course of this crisis. We must work together to turn the tide, recognizing that no single action can solve this. While we’ve seen some progress with fewer deaths this year, we cannot allow ourselves to become indifferent to this crisis. Every life lost is one too many. We must not, and will not, accept this as normal,” Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said.

“To save more lives, we will continue to urgently expand access to treatment and recovery. Getting help should be quick and easy, no matter where you live in British Columbia or where you are in your recovery journey. We’ve launched the new Opioid Treatment Access Line to connect people suffering with addiction to life-saving treatment, no matter where you are in the province. Whether you’re in a city or a remote community, help is available to start you on your path to recovery. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out. You can call 1-833-804-8111 from anywhere in the province to access same-day support.”

Though drug death tolls continued to rise, the death tolls do not appear to be approaching the local record-highs, which were 56 in Vernon, 104 in Kelowna, and 222 in the Okanagan, all of which were recorded in 2023.

However, the Interior and all of B.C. were on track to surpass the previous record of 434 and 2,572 deaths, respectively. Those record-highs were also recorded in 2023.

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