Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
February 09, 2022 - 5:30 PM
People from the Thompson-Cariboo region were nearly 50% more likely to die from illicit drugs last year than those in the Okanagan.
Across B.C. the number of deaths per 100,000 people was 42.8 in 2021. The Okanagan was slightly below average at 42.2 while the Thompson-Cariboo was well above at 61.1. Merritt had 124.9 deaths per 100,000 people – only Upper Skeena had a higher rate.
In 2021, there were 87 illicit drug deaths recorded in Kamloops, 86 in the Central Okanagan, 43 in Vernon, 26 in Penticton, 15 in Merritt, five in Grand Forks, four in Revelstoke, two in Keremeos, two in Princeton and none in Summerland.
The record for the highest number of overdose deaths in B.C. has been broken every year since 2015, aside from one time in 2019, according to a report released by the B.C. Coroners Service today, Feb. 9. The previous record was set in 2020 when 1,767 deaths were reported, and that was topped by 2,224 deaths in 2021 – a 26% increase.
The opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in April 2016.
READ MORE: B.C. coroner's report shows illicit toxic drug deaths highest ever in 2021
There was an average of 6.1 deaths each day last year in the province. In December 2021, there were 215 deaths – the largest number ever recorded in a single month. The previous record, 210, was set one month prior.
The proportion of deaths related to fentanyl appears to have teetered off. It reached its peak in 2018 when the powerful opioid was involved in 86% of overdose deaths. It was responsible for 85% of illicit overdose deaths in 2020, and slightly declined in 2021 when it was detected 83% of the time. But when compared to 2012, fentanyl was only detected in 5% of overdose deaths.
Methamphetamine has also seen a boost in popularity over the past decade. It was involved in 14% of deaths in 2012 and 44% in 2020.
From 2018 to 2021, fentanyl was detected in 86.7% of overdose deaths, cocaine was involved in 48% and meth was 39.7%.
In 2021, 83% of the deaths occurred indoors and 15% were outside. None were reported at supervised injection sites, and there was no indication that B.C.’s safe supply program contributed to any overdose deaths.
Deaths were most likely to occur during the five days that follow income assistance payments, which the province issues once per month. Anyone curious about when payments are issued can find the schedule here.
Smoking is becoming a deadlier method of ingestion and accounted for the majority of all deaths in 2021.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/B.C. Coroners Service
The Ministry of Public Safety and B.C. Coroners Service responded to the stats in a joint press release today.
"We must reduce the fear and shame that leads so many to hide their drug use, avoid services and use deadly drugs alone,” Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, said in a release from the Ministry of Public Safety.
Lapointe said the province wants to replace toxic drugs with a safer supply but the federal government is in the way.
“Addiction is not a choice, it's a health condition. That's why we continue to push Health Canada to approve our exemption so we can implement decriminalization of people who use drugs throughout B.C. This is a vital step to overcoming the stigma and shame associated with using drugs and helping to connect people with the supports they need.”
Guy Felicella, peer clinical adviser with Vancouver Coastal Health, expressed frustration in the release.
“Every one of these deaths was preventable and represents a failure to act, a failure to learn from mistakes,” he said. “Change nothing and nothing changes. That's been the story now for years as the approach throughout this crisis has been to meet policies where they're at, rather than meeting people who use drugs where they're at. This approach is killing and continues to kill people. Who has the courage to step forward and make this stop?"
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