The central Vancouver Island area is a relative anomaly in B.C. as the overdose epidemic hit a new high. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

overdose crisis

Overdose epidemic dips to pre-pandemic levels in Nanaimo, central Vancouver Island

Mar 2, 2021 | 10:39 AM

NANAIMO — The ongoing overdose epidemic in the Nanaimo region has dropped significantly, despite record-breaking highs across the province.

New data from the BC Coroners Service showed two people fatally overdosed in Nanaimo in January, 2021. Four people fatally overdosed throughout central Vancouver Island, compared to five in January, 2020.

Nanaimo and the central Vancouver Island area are now back to pre-pandemic levels in the ongoing overdose crisis, continuing a trend seen at the end of 2020 from a devastating and record-breaking summer.

Unfortunately not every region of Island Health managed to avoid rising overdose fatalities.

Victoria suffered 13 deaths in January, becoming the third most affected B.C. municipality. The area saw roughly three fatalities in December, 2020, making for one of the most dramatic reversals across the province.

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Island Health as a whole reversed trends seen at the end of 2020, guided by the staggering highs in Victoria.

Twenty people lost their lives within all of Island Health in January, 2021, compared to 10 the month before.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the scale of the ongoing overdose epidemic is “heartbreaking.”

“The findings suggest that the already unstable drug supply in B.C. is becoming even deadlier, underscoring the urgent need for supervised consumption options, prescribing for safe supply, and accessible treatment and recovery services,” she said in a release.

Across B.C., 165 people lost their lives in the worst January B.C. has recorded.

An average of 5.3 lives were lost each day in January.

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