More people have died from illicit drug overdoses in British Columbia in the first third of the year than ever in the province, according to newly published data, in part due to the growing share of street drugs containing benzodiazepines.
A report from the BC Coroners Service shows that 722 deaths were attributed to drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl (and often a combination) between January and April.
This is an average of 180.5 deaths per month, the second highest monthly average ever observed in the province.
And looking strictly at these four months, this is the highest fee ever seen in BC
At that time, 721 people died last year, which at that time exceeded the previous record with 164 deaths.
The solemn news comes after a statement from the federal government that health officials will allow BC’s request to decriminalize small amounts of drugs behind these deaths. The three-year experience begins next year, and the amount that Health Canada allows – 2.5 grams – is much lower than the 4.5 requested by the province. Critics also said before the approval that the province wants too little.
When the program begins in late January, adults identified with that amount or less will not be charged with personal possession and their drugs will not be confiscated.
The aim is to save lives, as the police provide information on available services instead of reaching for handcuffs.
Months before the start of the program, the latest report from forensic doctors shows that the province may be on the verge of another record number of deaths.
In April alone, there were 161 deaths from illicit drug overdoses, the second-highest death toll this month, at about 5.4 a day.
WHO IS DYING?
So far this year, according to officials, about three-quarters of the dead are between the ages of 30 and 59. Most are men, most are in the Vancouver Coaster and Fraser health authorities, most are in private housing, social housing and shelters at the time.
No one has been to places for controlled consumption or to prevent overdose, and there is no indication from post-mortem toxicology reports that the prescribed safe supply contributes to the number of deaths, the forensic report said. While many attributed the crisis to the use of sidewalks and parks, only 14% of deaths were in these places, compared to 84% indoors.
In terms of net figures, the Lower Continent has the highest number of deaths, making sense as the most populous part of British Columbia. But in terms of mortality, Northern Health still has the highest 58 per 100,000 people, compared to the province’s average of 41. Specific areas with the highest rates in British Columbia this year are Lillooet, Mission, Cariboo / Chilcotin, Merritt and Alberni / Clayoquot.
The toxicity of illicit drugs remains the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the province.
RECENT TRENDS FOR NOTICE
These trends were noted during much of the six-year overdose crisis in the province.
What has worried the authorities lately is that the percentage of overdoses in women is increasing, as is the percentage of people dying over the age of 50.
Fentanyl remains a concern, as its presence is still noted in the systems of most (83 percent) who died this year, but officials are now also closely monitoring the detection rate of benzodiazepines.
Also known as benzo, the drugs were in about 15 percent of the samples tested last July. By April, benzo had been detected in 45% of the samples.
Responding to an overdose involving both benzo and opioids is more complicated, health officials said, because naloxone, sometimes known as Narcan, will only deal with the symptoms of opioid overdose.
In recent months, the benzodiazepine analogue etizolam, which was found in the toxicology results of 40% of people who overdosed on illicit drugs, has become more common.
It is also a non-opioid sedative that does not react to naloxone.
In a news release Thursday that included the data, Chief Coroner Lisa Lapoant said her team was monitoring the “instability and inconsistency” of street drug supply.
“The reality is that every time someone uses drugs bought from the unregulated market, their life is at risk,” she said.
“Until safer, regulated supply becomes widely available, I encourage those who use drugs to use it only in the presence of someone who can help or call for medical help if necessary.
The British Minister for Mental Health and Addiction said in a reply to the monthly report that her “heart mourns” the dead and that almost everyone in the province has been affected or knows someone who has been affected.
“People on the front lines are making heroic efforts to save lives. And yet, tragically, we continue to lose lives on historic levels due to the increasingly toxic supply of drugs.”
She highlighted the province’s move towards decriminalization as a critical step in BC’s response to the crisis.
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