B.C.'s fentanyl issue remains a top concern for the province, but the latest numbers from the BC Coroners Service show a minor positive.
Up until the end of September, more than 1,100 British Columbians have died due to suspected illicit drug overdoses so far in 2017.
However, that number was already over 1,000 through the month of August and September was by far the best month this year with only 80 deaths.
It’s the first month since October 2016 where there have been less than 100 illicit drug deaths province wide.
However, those 80 deaths in September still represents a 31% increase on the 61 deaths caused by illicit drugs in September 2016.
Of the 1,100 deaths due to illicit drugs in B.C. this year, approximately 83% (914) of them had fentanyl detected.
That’s an astonishing 147% increase over the same period in 2016.
In most case, fentanyl was combined with other illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines.
Additionally, carfentanil was detected in 37 suspected illicit drug overdose deaths between June and September of this year.
The most common time for these deaths to occur is during the five days following income assistance payments, with an average of six deaths per day.
