The chief coroner for B.C. is pushing for a safe supply of illicit drugs to help cut down on overdose deaths. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

SIX PER DAY

Seven die in Nanaimo in October from drug toxicity as B.C. continues to set new records

Dec 9, 2021 | 12:46 PM

NANAMO — October is now the deadliest month in our province’s history for illicit drug toxicity.

201 lives were lost last month, which equates to just over six people dying per day. Seven fatalities were in Nanaimo, part of 10 across the central Vancouver Island region.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said drug toxicity comes second only to cancer in terms of total potential years of life lost in our province.

“Drug toxicity continues to be the leading cause of all unnatural deaths, far surpassing deaths due to motor vehicle incidents, homicides, and suicide combined.”

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 of this year, Nanaimo recorded 37 deaths linked to drug toxicity. It falls one short of the overall number of lives lost in all 12 months last year.

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2017 still sits as the deadliest year for drug toxicity deaths in the city, with 56 lives lost.

Across all of central Vancouver Island, encompassing communities like Nanaimo, Duncan, Oceanside, Port Alberni and Tofino/Ucluelet, 89 people have died in 2021 through to the end of October.

Central Vancouver Island set a new record in 2020 with 101 deaths.

Victoria continues to lead the Island Health authority with drug toxicity deaths. Southern Vancouver Island has seen 120 fatalities linked to the public health crisis through the first 10 months of the year.

Lapointe said illicit fentanyl continues to be the main contributing factor in drug toxicity deaths.

In 2012, fentanyl was present in only five per cent of drug toxicity deaths, while now it’s detected in 85 per cent of related fatalities.

While fentanyl continues to be the main factor, she said they are also increasingly finding other drugs such as methamphetamine and benzodiazepines, which can render the reversal agent naloxone useless.

“I have no doubt that should the province put it’s mind to the rollout of safe supply on the same level, we can see a better response and we need a better response.”

While drug toxicity is second in terms of potential years of life lost, COVID-19 currently ranks 12th.

Across B.C., 1,782 people have lost their lives to the toxic drug crisis, already surpassing record numbers set in 2020. Island Health reported 265 deaths through to Oct. 31, 2021.

Around 71 per cent of those who died of suspected drug toxicity this year were between the ages of 30-59, with 79 per cent of them male.

A vast majority, 80.5 per cent, of all fatalities occur in a residence with the remaining 19.5 per cent split between correctional or medical facilities, public washrooms or outside.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow