The BC Coroners Service has released its July figures for the number of those who died due to the province’s growing toxic drug supply.
Province-wide, there were 192 deaths, or just over six casualties per day, linked to unregulated drugs bringing the number to 1,365 since January 1st.
Newly appointed chief coroner, Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, added that toxic drugs continue to cause more loss of life in British Columbia than homicides, motor vehicle incidents, suicides, and natural causes combined.
Statistics also showed fentanyl was detected in nearly nine out of every 10 deaths this past July and 80 percent were males, up from 73 percent when compared to July 2023.
In seeing the report, Mental Health & Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the people lost are more than just numbers on a page.
“They’re our family members, our neighbours, our friends — people who should have had more time, more laughter and more chances to make memories with those who loved them.”
In the first seven months of 2024, there have been 13 toxic drug deaths in the East Kootenay; six more recorded over the same time frame in the Kootenay Boundary region to the West.
Since being declared a health care crisis in 2014, 16,337 British Columbians have died from toxic drugs; 133 residents here in the East Kootenay.
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