New BCCS data showed 13 people died from the toxic, unregulated drug supply in the Nanaimo area in January. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

grim numbers

Toxic drug deaths in Nanaimo leads Vancouver Island to start year

Mar 1, 2024 | 12:25 PM

NANAIMO — While the number of people dying from toxic drugs fell province-wide in January, the greater Nanaimo area went in the opposite direction.

Data from the BC Coroners Service (BCCS) showed 13 people died in the Nanaimo area in January from the toxic, unregulated drugs.

The 13 deaths in Nanaimo in January is tied for the second most in a month with Jan. 2023.

In February 2023, 15 people died from toxic drugs in Nanaimo, the most ever recorded in a month locally, according to the BCCS.

Nanaimo’s 13 illicit drug deaths in January trailed only Vancouver and Surrey, the BCCS noted.

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In the wider Central Vancouver Island region 13 such deaths were reported in January.

BCSS data calculated 198 suspected unregulated drug deaths in January across BC, representing a 10 per cent decrease compared to December and 14 per cent drop from January 2023.

Seventy-six per cent of those dying from toxic drugs in B.C. in January were male, with 69 per cent showing evidence of smoking inhalation.

Last year a record 112 people in the Nanaimo area died from toxic drugs among 2539 deaths, both of which set new records.

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