Overall, this January saw a significant decrease in illicit overdose deaths compared to last, but a troubling hop in carfentanil related deaths casts a shadow on the figures.
According to a report released by the BC Coroners Service today, the first month of 2019 saw 90 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths.
That number represents a 31 percent decrease from last January and a 22 percent decrease from December.
However, the Coroner’s Office also released a fentanyl-specific report which shows much less favourable numbers.
In January, carfentanil was detected in 13 overdose deaths, compared to 35 across the entirety of 2018.
Fentanyl or its analogues was detected in more than 13 hundred overdose deaths in 2018, or roughly 87 percent of illicit drug overdose deaths.
No deaths were recorded at supervised consumption sites.
