The B.C. Coroners Service is reporting that 165 people died of drug toxicity in March this year, marking the 18th consecutive month where more than 150 people have died in a month.
The number of people who died is nine fewer than in February, marking the third month in a row with a decrease in the number of deaths.
“It is encouraging to see a decrease in the number of lives lost in February and March relative to previous months, but we know the illicit drug market continues to present enormous risks to our community members,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.
“We encourage people using substances to exercise great care, use only a small amount first, and make sure someone is nearby to provide emergency aid if necessary. The volatile illicit market remains unreliable and unpredictable, and continues to take the lives of loved ones across the province.”
In Island Health, a total of 25 people have died in March due to drug toxicity, nine of whom were in Victoria.
In March, central Vancouver Island had the highest number of deaths on the Island, with 13 people dying in the region, nine people died in South Vancouver Island, and three people died in North Vancouver Island.
“It’s tragic that 165 people lost their lives to the toxic drug crisis in March. My heart is with the families and friends who are grieving, and my thanks to the front-line workers and peers who tried to save them,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson said in a statement.
“Our government remains committed to doing what it takes to turn the tide on this crisis. Almost every week, new mental-health and substance-use supports are added to save lives, yet the terribly toxic street drug supply continues to take lives.”
A death review panel, which examined overdose deaths in the province between Aug. 1, 2017 and July 31, 2021, made several recommendations on reducing the number of deaths including developing a policy by May 9 that allows for the distribution of a safer supply of drugs and provides better health supports.
“Current regulatory requirements present a barrier to the provision of care to those who are at immediate risk of death from the toxic illegal drug supply. As the drug supply has become more toxic, lower barrier access to a safer supply has become more pressing,” the report states.
CHEK News has asked the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to see what progress it has made on the recommendations and will update this story with its response.
Fentanyl and its analogues were detected in 94 per cent of drug toxicity deaths in March.
“Toxic illicit drugs are taking lives and inflicting devastating impacts on people from all walks of life,” Lapointe said.
“Along with the obvious tragedy of fatal outcomes, survivors of drug-toxicity emergency events often experience serious long-term health challenges. I am hopeful that implementation of the Death Review Panel’s recommendation to significantly and rapidly expand access to safer supply across the province will begin to diminish the terrible harms people in B.C. are currently experiencing.”
In 2022, 420 of the people who died of drug toxicity were men, 127 were women, and one person’s gender was unknown.
In March, an average number of 5.3 people died every day, but the number of deaths is concentrated around Income Assistance Payment Week.
When broken up, an average of eight people died every day from the Wednesday to Sunday of Income Assistance Payment Week, and an average of 4.8 people died every other day of the month.
-With files from The Canadian Press
Laura Brougham
