In the first nine months of 2021, more than 1,500 people have died of illicit drug overdose in British Columbia. In her latest report, the province's chief coroner says it's the most overdose deaths B.C. has ever seen in that time period.
In the first nine months of 2021, more than 1,500 people have died of illicit drug overdose in British Columbia.
Lisa Lapointe said in a statement Tuesday morning that 333 people died in August and September of this year, bringing the death toll so far to 1,534. Lapointe said September was the 12th consecutive month in which at least 150 people died due to toxic illicit drugs. The average per month is now at 170 deaths.
The chief coroner called the latest update "heartbreaking," and as in previous months, noted an issue with a "volatile and increasingly toxic" supply of drugs, many of which are cut with the ultra-potent opioid fentanyl.