177 Lives Lost To Toxic Drugs In February 2024

The BC Coroners Service says at least 177 people in British Columbia were lost to toxic, unregulated drugs in February.

That reflects an 11 percent decrease from February of 2023 and is down 12 percent from January.

However, February is also the 20th consecutive month in which there have been at least 175 deaths suspected to be caused by the toxic-drug supply reported by the agency.

An average of 6.1 lives were lost per day in February 2024.

Rates of death throughout the province remain significantly elevated.

The provincewide rate of death for the first two months of 2024 is below the record numbers reported last year, but still nearly twice the rate recorded in 2016, the year the public-health emergency was first declared.

Of note, both the Northern (76.7) and Island (54.3) health authorities recorded record-high rates of death in the first two months of 2024.

Toxicological testing continues to reflect a volatile and inconsistent drug supply throughout B.C.

As has been the case throughout the toxic-drug crisis, fentanyl has been identified in about eight out of every 10 test results in 2024, often in combination with cocaine, methamphetamine and/or other substances.

Nearly every unregulated drug death is the result of mixed drug toxicity.

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in British Columbia for persons aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural disease combined.

The lives of at least 14,208 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs since the public-health emergency was first declared in April 2016.

The highest rates have been recorded in Northern Interior, North Vancouver Island, Central Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and Thompson Cariboo Shuswap.

By Local Health Area in 2023, Greater Campbell River counts among the highest rates, along with Vancouver-Centre North, Hope, Alberni, and Terrace.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.