The province and Nanaimo are both on pace to set new toxic drug death records this year. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

grim data

Illicit drug deaths drop province-wide last month, but continue rising in Nanaimo

Jun 19, 2023 | 2:27 PM

NANAIMO — While a notable reduction in tainted drug fatalities last month was reported by the BC Coroners Service (BCCS), the situation is not improving.

In May 176 lives were lost across the province due to toxic drugs, the lowest monthly number of fatalities since last June when 154 deaths were reported.

May’s province-wide toxic drug death totals decreased by 19 per cent from the 218 fatalities in April.

However, the province is on pace for its deadliest tainted drug use year on record with 1,018 reported deaths in the first five months of the year, according to new data from the BCCS released on Monday, June 19.

Through last year’s record-setting 2,358 fatalities due to toxic drugs, 989 deaths were reported province-wide in the first five months.

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In Nanaimo, the situation is worsening with 13 toxic drug deaths in May for a total of 58 in the first five months of this year.

Nanaimo’s 58 death marks the second most fatalities ever recorded in one year in the Harbour City with the 76 fatalities last year setting a new local record.

The Central Vancouver Island area (Cowichan Valley north to Oceanside, Alberni Valley/Tofino Ucluelet) has experienced 89 tainted drug deaths during the first five months of the year for an ominous death rate of 68.7 per 100,000 people (4^th highest among 16 Health Service Delivery Areas).

“Unregulated drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death in British Columbia for people aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined. The lives of at least 12,264 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs in the seven years since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016,” read a BCCS statement.

B.C.’s ongoing toxic drug crisis continues to be driven by fentanyl.

The highly potent synthetic opioid has been detected in 85 per cent of toxic drug deaths province-wide so far this year, which is consistent with BCCS data since 2017.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe noted fentanyl represents nearly double the positive rate of methamphetamine and cocaine, the subsequent most commonly identified substances in fatal drug use cases.

Meantime, the BCCS also released data on unregulated drug use fatalities and youth under the age of 19 in the province.

The data noted 142 such deaths between 2017 and 2022, including seven in Nanaimo.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes