Last year 116 people in Greater Nanaimo died from illicit toxic drugs, part of 2,511 who died province-wide, making 2023 the deadliest year on record for toxic drug deaths. (Dreamstime)

By Jordan Davidson

seven dead everyday

Deadliest year ever for toxic drugs as Nanaimo, central Island & B.C. set new tragic records

Jan 24, 2024 | 2:06 PM

NANAIMO — More people died from drug toxicity last year than in any year previous.

Grim new numbers from the B.C. Coroners Service shows 2023 will go down as the deadliest year in the toxic drug crisis so far, with 2,511 people dying of suspected unregulated drug deaths province-wide, including 116 in the Greater Nanaimo region.

Nanaimo already passed the grim record of 85 deaths in 2022 in October, where 99 people had already lost their lives to illicit toxic drugs from Jan 1. to Oct. 31.

B.C.’s chief coroner Lisa Lapointe spoke about the increase in unregulated drug deaths on Wednesday, Jan. 24., with five per cent more people dying this year compared to last.

“Their death was preventable. Their loss, your loss, is our collective loss. Close to 14,000 people have died as a result of drug toxicity in B.C., since this public health emergency was declared in April of 2016, and they’ve left holes in our lives, our families, and our communities.”

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The 116 deaths in Nanaimo accounted for about four per cent of all unregulated drug deaths province-wide last year, with Vancouver, Surrey, and the Greater Victoria Area at the top.

Seventy-eight people died in all of 2022 in Nanaimo, while 53 lost their lives the year prior, showing a sharp increase in Harbour City unregulated drug deaths.

Greater Nanaimo had the seventh highest rate of drug deaths (fatalities per 100,000 people) in the province with 89.8, behind Kitimat, Greater Campbell River, Terrace, Alberni/Clayoquot, Hope, and Vancouver Centre North.

Central Vancouver Island, including communities like Oceanside, Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet, also saw extensive loss of life due to toxic illicit drugs, with 210 deaths last year.

The year previous saw 170 central Island residents die from drug toxicity.

The majority of deaths province-wide continued with 70 per cent between the ages of 30 and 59, with 77 per cent male.

Eighty per cent happened indoors, with 19 per cent occurring outside, including in vehicles or on the street.

Only one death was reported from an overdose prevention site last year.

Fentanyl remained one of the leading factors in all investigated fatalities, present in around 83 per cent of cases, which is down three percentage points from last year, but about average since 2016.

Prescribed safe supply
Lapointe said there is no indication prescribed safe supply is contributing to unregulated drug deaths, with hydromorphone detected in only three per cent of deaths.

Lapointe said the goal of programs like safe supply and decriminalization is not to encourage people to use harmful substances but to acknowledge people are using them and wish to reduce the risk.

“History has clearly demonstrated that punishment has not been an effective response to a health issue. A response focused on enforcement and punishment has cost billions of dollars and has resulted in greater harms, including increasing the risk of dying.”

She said approximately 225,000 B.C. residents are currently using unregulated drugs, with about 100,000 having an opioid use disorder.

Lapointe pushed back on comments regarding the public’s unease seeing illicit drugs being used in public, saying the greatest risk lies with those using drugs, especially if they are alone.

“It’s not comfortable seeing people use drugs in public. But who is most uncomfortable? Is it those of us who get to return to our warm homes and beds and showers at the end of the day, or is it those living unhoused, who are trying to cope the best way they know how, often while experiencing illness, pain, or chronic health conditions? Who is most at risk from a safety perspective?

The provincial death toll of 2,511 lives lost represents a 5.4 per cent increase over 2022 totals.

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