British Columbia Passes Last Year’s Record for Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths

British Columbia has set a new record, but it’s one that they are far from proud of.

After the third straight record breaking month, BC has eclipsed last year’s illicit overdose death total with 1,782, and counting.

In October alone, BC registered 201 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths, more than any single month on record.

Just under 85 percent of overdose deaths this year involve fentanyl.

This year the Northwest Health Service Delivery Area is seeing 53 deaths per 100,000 people, the third most after Vancouver and the Thompson/ Cariboo.