Fentanyl continues to be a major driver in the toxic drug crisis, present in over 80 per cent of all testing. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

record deaths

Illicit drugs claiming record number of lives across Nanaimo & central Island

Nov 30, 2023 | 4:14 PM

NANAIMO — Records have officially been shattered in the region as more and more people die from illicit toxic drugs.

Data from the B.C. Coroner’s Service shows 96 people have died in the greater Nanaimo area between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 this year, comfortably outpacing record losses in any previous year. Seven deaths came in October alone.

Seventy-eight people died in all of 2022, while 53 lost their lives the year prior, and should current trends continue Nanaimo can expect to lose around 115 people by year’s end.

Greater Nanaimo also has the third highest rate of drug deaths (fatalities per 100,000 people) in the province, behind only Vancouver-Centre North and the North Thompson region of the Interior.

It was also noted by the Coroner’s Service to account for around five per cent of all drug-related deaths in B.C., despite only having around two per cent of the province’s population.

murder charge

Parksville man charged with murder in connection to death of his mother

49m ago

fiery scene

Parksville man killed in late night crash along Hwy. 4

16h ago

fire safety

'Install, test, replace:' smoke alarm safety top of mind for Nanaimo firefighters

Oct 05, 2024

Central Vancouver Island, including communities like Oceanside, Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet, also saw extensive loss of life.

A total of 174 people have died this year, through to Oct. 31, already eclipsing the 168 deaths linked to toxic drugs in 2022 and the 130 in 2021.

The B.C. Coroners Service reports eight deaths in the Oceanside region, however data only covers January through the end of August.

Provincially, B.C. lost 189 people in October, part of the 2,039 deaths linked to the ongoing toxic drug crisis through 2023 to date.

Again, should current trends continue, B.C. will break records for lives lost set last year.

“October was the 37th consecutive month in which at least 150 deaths are suspected to have been caused by the toxic-drug supply were reported to the BC Coroners Service,” the service said in its written report. “The 189 lives lost in October equate to approximately 6.1 lives lost per day.”

A vast majority, 69 per cent, of deaths in B.C. are among working-aged individuals. Men also make up around 77 per cent of recorded drug-related fatalities.

Fentanyl remains present in around 83 per cent of all investigated fatalities, marginally down from the last two years.

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW