B.C. Coroners Service says overdose deaths are higher in 2017 than last year. File Photo.
Overdose deaths in the province are higher in 2017 compared to last year after new data was released Thursday by the BC Coroners Service.
Statistics from the coroner’s office through September shows there have been 1,103 overdose deaths, up from 607 at this time in 2016.
The Coroners Service says there were 80 suspected drug overdose deaths this September, a 31 per cent increase from September 2016.
Figures also show 83 per cent of drug deaths in the province had fentanyl detected, a 147 per cent jump from last year.
BC Coroners Service says four of five who died were male and almost three of four deaths involved people between the ages of 30 and 59.
No deaths are reported to have occurred at any supervised consumption site or a drug overdose prevention site.
Andy Neal
