The Interior records 27 Illicit drugs in April

Preliminary reporting released by the BC Coroners Service confirms at least 176 British Columbians were lost to toxic illicit drugs in April, bringing the total number of deaths recorded in 2021 to 680.

“Once again, we’re reminded that the scale of this public health emergency is truly unprecedented,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to every family in the province that is experiencing the unimaginable pain of sudden and unexpected loss. Every life lost to toxic drugs in our province is a profound tragedy. Every one of them mattered, and every one of them will be missed.”

The 176 lives lost are a record for the month of April and represent a 43% increase over the number of deaths reported in April 2020. This is the 14th consecutive month in which more than 100 British Columbians have died from suspected illicit drug toxicity and raises the provincial rate of deaths for 2021 to 39.3 per 100,000 residents.

The Interior Health Authority recorded 27 illicit drug deaths in April, a slight decrease from the 29 recorded in March.

Broken down further, the Thompson Cariboo Health Service Delivery Area, which includes Merritt, saw nine deaths in April, a decrease from the 15 in March. Merritt alone has now seen six deaths in 2021, the highest rate per 100,000 people in BC.

Additional key preliminary findings are below. Data are subject to change:

* The number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in April 2021 was about 5.9 deaths per day.

* Males accounted for 79% of deaths in 2021.

* In 2021, 70% of those dying were aged 30 to 59.