Toxic-drug death rate at a four-year-low, B.C. Coroners Service says

published on July 30, 2024 by Cindy E. Harnett in Times Colonist

The number of people who died from toxic drug poisonings in the first half of this year is down from the same period last year, and the overall death rate is at a four-year low, according to new data from the B.C. Coroners Service.

There were 1,158 deaths by June of this year, down from 1,279 in the same period last year — a nine per cent drop, said John McNamee, acting chief coroner.

The death rate per 100,000 people, meanwhile, has hit a four-year low — 40.8 in June, compared with 46.3 at the six-month mark last year, 43.1 in 2022, and 41.3 in 2021.

McNamee said despite the drop, about six people a day continue to die as a result of the unregulated toxic drug supply — down from nearly seven last year.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the numbers released Tuesday reflect what the province has seen over the last number of months…