New data from the BC Coroners Service shows that a record 201 people died of a suspected illicit drug overdose in October.

This is the highest total in any month ever recorded in the province, an average of 6.5 deaths a day.

“Today, we will lose six more people,” Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said. “Tomorrow we will lose six more people and by Christmas, we’ll have lost another 40 or 50 members of our communities, and that’s just not acceptable any longer.”

There were 10 more deaths reported in Kamloops in October, taking the total on the year to 60, which ties the record set just last year.

So far in 2021, there have been 1,782 suspected overdose deaths across B.C., making this the deadliest year on record with still two months of data to come.

More than 84 per cent of these deaths in 2021 have involved fentanyl. While it is down slightly from the 85 per cent in 2020, more than 14 per cent of the deaths in 2021 involved “extreme” concentrations of the drug.

“According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, drug toxicity comes second only to cancers in terms of total potential years of life lost in our province. By comparison COVID-19 is 12th,” Lapointe added.

“Drug toxicity continues to be the leading cause of all unnatural deaths, far surpassing deaths due to motor vehicle incidents, homicides, and suicides combined.”

More than 70 per cent of deaths were among people aged 30 to 59, with 79 per cent were men.

Since April 2016, when the public health emergency was declared in the province, more than 8,300 have died as a result of drug toxicity.

“I cannot stress enough how urgent this emergency has become,” Lapointe said. “A comprehensive plan to ensure access to safe supply for the thousands of B.C. residents dependent on these substances is essential. Shifting from a punishment and stigmatizing regime to a decriminalized, health-focused model is also a critical step to reduce suffering and save lives.”

More to come