Spike in illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops News

Spike in illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C.

More than 160 people died from illicit drug overdoses in B.C. in March, the second-highest monthly total to date.

Data from the B.C. Coroners Service shows a 24 per cent increase compared to the 130 drug overdose deaths in March 2017, and a 58 per cent increase compared to February's total of 102 deaths.

Preliminary data shows fentanyl was detected in more than 80 per cent of deaths in the first three months of 2018. Seventy per cent of those who died were between 19 and 49 years old.

During the first quarter of 2018, there have been 391 suspected overdose deaths in the province, on par with the 400 reported through the first three months of last year, the B.C. Coroners Service says.

More than 90 per cent of the deaths occurred indoors, and no deaths have been reported at supervised consumption sites or drug overdose prevention sites.

More than 1,400 British Columbians died due to suspected illicit drug overdoses in 2017.

So far this year, 13 people have died of an illicit drug overdose in Kelowna, 12 in Kamloops and seven in Vernon. Numbers are not available for Penticton.

All of the health authorities, except for the Interior, saw an increase in the number of illicit drug deaths in March 2018 compared to February of this year.


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