Highest rate of 2023 toxic drug deaths in B.C. found in Northern Health

More than 2,500 lives were lost to toxic drugs in B.C. during 2023, according to a preliminary report released by the BC Coroners Service. The highest rate was in the Northern Health region at 67 deaths per 100,000 individuals. 

Looking by local health areas, 95 deaths were recorded in Prince George, 13 in Quesnel, 13 in the Cariboo, five in the South Cariboo, 11 in Nechako, two deaths in 100 Mile House, six in Burns Lake, six in Smithers, 19 in Peace River North, and 13 in Peace River South. 

Illicit fentanyl remains the driver of the toxic-drug crisis, with fentanyl appearing in more than 85 percent of test results conducted in 2023.

"There is no indication that prescribed safer supply is contributing to unregulated drug deaths," noted the report. 

The lives lost in 2023 equates to roughly 6.9 deaths per day, or five percent higher than the 2,383 deaths recorded in 2022. About seven in every 10 deaths were aged between 30 and 59, and more than three quarters were male. 

80 percent of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside in 2023, while 19 percent occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks, etc. Smoking was the most common consumption method in 2023, followed by injection, nasal, and oral.