Despite a 13% decrease in toxic drug deaths in British Columbia, marking the lowest number since 2020, the province still recorded 2,253 lives lost to overdoses last year.
The BC Coroners Service announced a 13 percent decrease in toxic drug deaths in British Columbia last year, marking the lowest number since 2020. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan stated that this decline aligns with trends observed across Canada and globally, but emphasized that 2,253 lives were still lost to overdoses in B.C. in 2024. While acknowledging the positive trend, Dr. Baidwan stressed that the tragedy of these deaths and the grief experienced by loved ones remain profound.
The report released by the service revealed that approximately 70 percent of those who died were between the ages of 30 and 59, and nearly three-quarters were male. Dr. Baidwan highlighted a noticeable decline in fatalities during the latter months of 2024. Fentanyl continued to be the primary culprit behind drug-related deaths in B.C., detected in 78 percent of expedited toxicology tests conducted last year. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne, while acknowledging the decrease in deaths, underscored the enduring pain felt by communities across the province. She emphasized that this reduction does not diminish the grief that permeates society. The report also revealed that over 16,047 individuals in B.C. have succumbed to unregulated drugs since the declaration of a public health emergency in 2016. Notably, other Canadian provinces have also reported declines in drug-related deaths, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported a 22 percent reduction in drug deaths within the United States in the year ending August 2024
Toxic Drugs Overdose Deaths Fentanyl British Columbia Public Health
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