From January to June this year, 25 people in 91原创 died from toxic street drugs, according to the latest report by the BC Coroners Service.
Across B.C., there were 181 deaths in May and 185 in June, the report released on July 30 found. That brings total deaths from street drugs to 1,158 across the province in the first half of the year.
That is a decline of nine per cent compared to the first half of 2023, but it is still far above the level seen before the lethal fentanyl epidemic began in the mid-2010s. In 2014, 370 people died of toxic drugs and overdoses in the entire year in B.C.
"People are continuing to lose their loved ones in communities across B.C. at a tragic rate," said John McNamee, the province's acting chief coroner. "Even as the figures reflect a nine per cent decrease in the number of deaths reported to the coroners service during the first six months of this year from 2023, the number of lives lost is still significant."
Jennifer Whiteside, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said that each death remained a "heartbreaking loss" for family and loved ones.
"As noted in the report, the number of toxic-drug deaths in the first six months of 2024 is lower compared to the same period in 2023, and the rate of death is at its lowest point in four years," Whiteside said. "We are monitoring this closely as we continue to expand access to treatment and recovery services, and services to keep people safe."
Those dying of the toxic street drugs continue to skew male and older.
In 2014, six per cent of those dying of toxic drugs were over 60 years old. In 2024 so far, that's up to 16 per cent.
The number of people aged 19 to 29 dying has dropped over the same time, from 22 per cent to 14 per cent.
The bulk of deaths are people aged 30-39 (24 per cent) 40-49 (25 per cent) or 50-59 (20 per cent).
The number of women as a percentage of deaths has risen, hitting 28 per cent this year, but men made up the remaining 72 per cent of deaths. In recent years, 76 to 82 per cent of deaths have been among men.
