The BC Coroners Service reports a 13 percent decrease in toxic drug deaths in British Columbia last year, the lowest number since 2020. However, 2,253 individuals still lost their lives to overdoses.
VICTORIA — The BC Coroners Service reports a 13 percent decrease in toxic drug deaths in British Columbia last year, marking the lowest number since 2020. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan states that this decline aligns with trends observed across Canada and internationally. However, he emphasizes that 2,253 individuals still lost their lives to overdoses in B.C. last year, a tragedy deeply felt by their loved ones.
A report released by the service reveals that approximately 70 percent of those who died were between the ages of 30 and 59, and nearly three-quarters were male. Baidwan highlights a downward trend in fatalities observed over the last several months of 2024. Fentanyl continues to be the primary driver of drug-related deaths in B.C., detected in 78 percent of expedited tests conducted last year. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne acknowledges the decrease in deaths but stresses that it does not diminish the grief felt throughout communities. Since the declaration of a public health emergency in 2016, over 16,047 people in B.C. have succumbed to unregulated drugs. Other Canadian provinces have also reported declines in drug deaths, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicates a 22 percent decrease in reported drug deaths in the United States during the year ending in August 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 4, 2025
DRUG DEATHS BC FENTANYL OVERDOSE PUBLIC HEALTH
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