A significant drop in illicit drug overdose deaths through May of this year compared to last had the BC Coroners’ Service cautiously optimistic.
According to a report released by the Service today, the first five months of 2019 have seen 462 illicit drug overdose deaths in BC.
Compared to 651 over the same time period last year, that represents a 30 percent drop.
If the province can maintain this pace, it would be the first time the numbers have dropped across a full year since 2011.
Fentanyl was identified as being a factor in 83 percent of illicit overdoses, down from 87 percent last year.
It wasn’t all good news though, as the carfentanyl problem continues to balloon.
Carfentanyl was detected in 102 deaths through May, compared to just 35 in all of 2018.
