A total of 302 individuals tragically lost their lives to unregulated toxic drugs in British Columbia during July and August, according to the latest data released by the coroners service.
This figure marks a slight increase from the previous months, with 145 deaths reported in May and 147 in June. The government has expressed concern over the alarming rate of almost five deaths per day attributed to unregulated drugs during July and August.
The Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities recorded the highest number of fatalities this year, accounting for over half of the province’s total. The majority of the deaths, over two-thirds, occurred among individuals aged 30 to 59, with men representing 78 percent of the deceased.
Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most frequently detected substances in toxicology screenings, being present in 70 percent of the cases during this period.