Some facts on illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C.
VICTORIA — Some facts about illicit drug overdose deaths in 2016 in British Columbia:
— The 914 people who died last year represents an almost 80-per-cent increase from 2015, when 510 people died.
— The 142 people who died in December is the highest number recorded in a month.
— Illicit fentanyl appears to largely account for the increase since 2012 as the number of deaths where fentanyl was not detected has remained relatively stable since 2011, at an average of 293 deaths a year.