The BC Coroners Service said 184 British Columbians lost their lives to toxic drugs in June.
According to the Coroners Service report, six people died in the Kootenay Boundary region, while two people lost their lives in the East Kootenay.
B.C.’s numbers show that over 1,200 people died from drug poisonings across the province since the start of the year.
“British Columbia is continuing to lose community members at record rates as a result of the toxicity of the unregulated drug market,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner. “Illicit fentanyl continues to drive the crisis, which is causing deaths in large and small municipalities, towns and cities across the province.”
“This health emergency is not confined to one neighbourhood or one demographic. Anyone accessing an illicit substance is at risk of serious harm or death.”
BC Coroners Service officials said fentanyl continues to be the primary driver in unregulated drug deaths.
“Fentanyl and/or a fentanyl analogue was present in more than 90% of expedited toxicological testing in June, while nearly three-quarters of tests indicated the presence of a stimulant,” said BC Coroners Service officials. “Almost all unregulated drug deaths are the result of mixed drug toxicity.”
BC Coroners Service officials said over 80% of reported deaths in 2023 happened indoors, with over half occurring in a private home.
Unregulated toxic drugs are the leading cause of death in B.C. for people between 10 to 59 years old, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined.
“As coroners, we speak every day to families who are grieving the loss of a loved one,” Lapointe said. “Our agency continues to recommend rapid expansion of a safer drug supply throughout the province to reduce the significant harms associated with the toxic illicit drug market and prevent future deaths.”
At least 12,509 BC residents have lost their lives to unregulated drugs since the public health emergency began in April 2016.