As B.C. reports record number of overdose deaths, Dr. Bonnie Henry makes emotional plea for help

published on June 12, 2020 by Craig Takeuchi in Georgia Straight

While B.C. has been preoccupied with COVID-19 issues, a concurrent health emergency, that has been worsened by the pandemic, has been overshadowed.

However, health officials brought that health crisis back into the spotlight as they responded to a report with grim and troubling news about overdose deaths in the province.

Overdose deaths reach record number

According to an updated report from the B.C. Coroners Service released on June 11, a total of 170 people died of illicit drug toxicity in May, which is the highest monthly total that has taken place in British Columbia. The previous record number of 161 deaths was reported in December 2016…