BC Coroners Service issues urgent warning amid anticipated record year for drug deaths
Posted December 13, 2023 3:00 pm.
Last Updated December 13, 2023 3:01 pm.
The BC Coroners Service is issuing a warning to people who use illicit drugs in response to what it calls a “recent increase in deaths” caused by toxic substances.
The agency said in October that it was expecting 2023 to be another record-breaking year when it comes to deaths. However, the service notes, since that time, “the number of deaths due to drug toxicity has increased above earlier indications.”
The numbers are still under review for November but the BC Coroners Service says the preliminary data suggests more than 200 deaths were caused by the unregulated toxic drug supply last month. That would average out to about seven lives lost each day.
“Unregulated drug deaths in the winter months have historically increased over the numbers reported during the rest of the year, so this early increase could be a sign of another challenging season for people who use drugs in B.C.,” the service said in an update Wednesday.
“In recognition of how difficult the holiday season is for those who have lost loved ones, there has historically not been a monthly drug-death reporting update in December. It is important, however, to ensure that people are aware of the continuing risks related to the unregulated drug market and of recent increases in deaths reported.”
The Coroners Service is pleading with people to not use drugs alone and to “take advantage of every available support to keep themselves safe.”
It recommends people use overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, as well as drug-checking services. People are aslo encouraged to use drugs with someone who will be able to administer naloxone in the case of overdose and call 911.
“Recent reports of counterfeit hydromorphone tablets in Interior Health make clear that even substances presumed to be safe carry significant risk. The only way to be certain about the substances contained in a product that is purchased illicitly is by having it tested by an approved service,” the Coroners Service added.
