Four more people died of the toxic street drug supply in March, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service about the ongoing public health crisis.

In the first three months of the year, 13 people have died in 91原创, the report says. Across B.C., 572 people have died.

91原创, along with all areas of the province, saw a huge increase in the number of drug deaths starting around 2015 and 2016, as fentanyl began entering the province in large amounts.

The potent opioid killed an increasing number of drug users.

In 2014, 91原创 saw 10 illicit drug deaths in total. Those numbers began rising steeply in 2016, and peaked at 58 in 2021.

Provincially, in 2014, 370 people died of the illicit drugs. Last year, 2,551 people died, the highest ever recorded.

Although the death toll recorded in February remains high, it is slightly down from last year. There were 192 deaths in March across the province, an 11 per cent decrease over the same month last year.

About 6.2 people in B.C. are dying every day.

Another change has been an increase in the rate of women dying of toxic drugs, although 71 per cent are still male.

鈥淓ach month, the report issued by the BC Coroners Service is more than just a summary of statistics, it鈥檚 a profound reminder of the lives lost to toxic drugs in British Columbia,鈥� said Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.鈥檚 Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. 鈥淲e mourn the passing of 192 individuals in March and the devastating loss to their families, communities and our province. These were people with hopes, dreams and stories cut tragically short by a crisis that continues to challenge us deeply.鈥�

PREVIOUSLY: 9 fatal drug overdoses in two months reported in 91原创