B.C.’s toxic drug crisis claims 192 lives in July

Nearly 200 lives were lost to the toxic drug crisis in B.C. in July.

Based on preliminary reporting, the province says at least 192 people died that month, marking a 31 per cent increase over June 2022.

“As they have for the past seven years, these numbers reflect the ever-present threat that illicit drugs pose to substance users across B.C.,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

“The unregulated drug market continues to be volatile and toxic, and anyone using drugs purchased from illicit suppliers is at high risk for serious harm or death. We continue to urge those using illicit drugs to access drug-checking services, where available, or visit overdose-prevention sites, where available.”

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The province notes a record number of deaths were reported in the first seven months of this year, with nearly 1,300 lives lost.

The majority of deaths were recorded in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions, it adds, though other regions also have experienced losses.

“Families and communities across the province are continuing to suffer the sudden and tragic deaths of loved ones due to toxic drugs,” said Lapointe.

“Whether they are chronically substance-dependent or using only occasionally, all of those who access the illicit drug market are vulnerable to serious harms. The subject-matter experts on the recent death review panel urgently recommended significant expansion of safer supply in communities throughout the province in order to reduce the devastation caused by this public-health crisis.”

Once again, no deaths were reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites, the government adds.

Over the summer, the BC Coroners Service revealed that more than 10,000 people had died since 2016, when the toxic drug crisis was declared a public health emergency in B.C.

In July, B.C.’s chief coroner told CityNews the province was on track to set a new record in 2022 when it comes to drug deaths. She said she wasn’t convinced things would get better anytime soon.

In May, B.C. became the first province to be granted an exemption to federal drug laws in order to decriminalize small amounts of certain substances for personal possession.

The exemption period begins Jan. 31, 2023 and is set to be in place for three years. During this period, there will be no arrests or charges against people who are found to have 2.5 grams or less of certain substances for personal use. The drugs will also not be seized.