Deaths continue at a high rate from the toxic drug crisis across the province, including higher than normal numbers on the central Island. (Pikist)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

TOXIC DRUG CRISIS

25 people in Nanaimo die from drug toxicity through first seven months of 2021

Sep 29, 2021 | 9:32 AM

NANAIMO — The grip on our region from the ongoing toxic drug crisis shows little sign of ending.

New data from the BC Coroners Service on Wednesday, Sept. 29, showed 61 people across central Vancouver Island had died from the toxic drug crisis between January and July 2021, including 25 in Nanaimo.

Nine deaths in the central Island region came in July alone. No data was available from August.

The numbers are down on record highs in recent years, however still well above established patterns from 2011 through 2015.

Fatalities in the central Island per 100,000 people sit at 34.3, below the provincial average of 39.7. However, the region is currently at its highest drug toxicity death rate in at least the last ten years.

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Northern Vancouver Island’s rate is listed as 50.9 however the BC Coroners Service advised of a small sample size in some areas through 2021.

The number of deaths from the toxic drug crisis have remained high for many areas of the province, including central Vancouver Island. (BC Coroners Service)

Victoria was singled out by the Coroners Service, along with Vancouver and Surrey, for having the highest number of deaths related to illicit drug toxicity.

The rate is highest in Vancouver where 70 of every 100,000 people have died from drug toxicity.

Across B.C., an average of 5.9 people died every day in July from the toxic drug crisis.

A majority, 72 per cent, were men aged 30 to 59. Men have also accounted for 79 per cent of all fatalities since January.

Over half of all deaths took place inside private residences with just under a third occurring in social or supportive housing complex, hotels or shelters.

The BC Coroners Service couldn’t find any deaths reported at supervised consumption sites.

A graph showing the number of fatalities from the toxic drug crisis, compared to other leading causes of death. (BC Coroners Service)

Fentanyl continues to be the main driver in drug toxicity across the province with 86 per cent of all overdose-related deaths in 2021 containing the additive.

Thirteen per cent of deaths between April 2020 and July 2021 contained “extreme fentanyl concentrations”, compared to eight per cent between January 2019 to March 2020.

The Coroners Service also reported carfentanil was detected in 113 drug toxicity deaths so far in 2021, up from 65 in the first seven months of last year.

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