First Nation overdose deaths disproportionately high

The large gap in death rates between First Nations individuals and other British Columbia residents is now wider than it has ever been.

In 2020, 254 First Nations people died due to toxic drugs, a 119 per cent increase from 2019 and the highest number of toxic drug deaths recorded for First Nations since 2016 when the province of BC first declared a public health emergency. First Nations people died at 5.3 times the rate of other BC residents in 2020, up from 3.9 times in 2019.

“The devastating impact of the toxic drug crisis on BC’s First Nations people, families, and communities cannot be ignored”, said Richard Jock, CEO of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). “This issue will not be resolved without the continued support and commitment of health service partners, and First Nations leaders. We must continue to work together to reduce the impact of drug toxicity on First Nations people.”

Last year saw the highest-ever number of toxic drug deaths among both First Nations women and men: 172 men and 82 women died. First Nations women were especially affected. Women account for 32 per cent of toxic drug deaths for First Nations people, double the rate of non-First Nations women in BC.

First Nations people have been over-represented since the beginning of the public health emergency. First Nations individuals make up 3.3 per cent of BC’s population yet account for almost 15 per cent of toxic drug deaths in 2020. This is an increase from 11.8 per cent in 2019.