It was an extremely sombre year during 2020 for northern B.C. and illicit drug overdose deaths.
According to the latest data released by the BC Coroners Service today (Feb. 11), last year was the deadliest on record for the province, Prince George, Northern Health and the northern interior region.
“The impacts of COVID-19 highlighted the immensely precarious situation of those experiencing problematic substance use in our province," BC Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said.
“Decades of criminalization, an increasingly toxic illicit drug market and the lack of timely access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives in B.C. It’s clear that urgent change is needed to prevent future deaths and the resulting grief and loss so many families and communities have experienced across our province.”
The Coroners Service says 2020 totalled 1,716 illicit drug overdose deaths throughout B.C., a 74 per cent increase from 984 deaths in 2019.
The numbers from last year equate to roughly 4.7 deaths a day, which is two deaths higher than 2019's 2.7 deaths per day count.
Prince George recorded 58 deaths last year, the highest since 2010 with its previous record year of 51 set in 2018.
Prince George has recorded its highest amount of illicit drug deaths in 2020 compared to the last 10 years. The BC Coroners Service says 58 were recorded last year in Prince George with the previous high 51 in 2018 #cityofpg #bcpoli #overdose @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/zHvgDfSBdD
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) February 11, 2021
A breakdown by year is as follows:
- 2010 - 1
- 2011 - 6
- 2012 - 10
- 2013 - 7
- 2014 - 10
- 2015 - 12
- 2016 - 18
- 2017 - 24
- 2018 - 51
- 2019 - 25
- 2020 - 58
Prince George was also the fourth highest local health area in B.C. from 2018 to 2020 for illicit drug overdose deaths, ahead of the region was Keremeos, Vancouver and Hope.
Northern Health also shattered its 10-year record, seeing 132 deaths in 2020. The region's previous high was also in 2018 which saw 101.
Northern Health also had its highest amount of illicit drug deaths during the past 10 years in 2020 with 132. The second highest, also in 2018, was 101 #cityofpg #bcpoli #overdose @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/MXw8kwIBZO
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) February 11, 2021
A breakdown for the health authority is as follows:
- 2010 - 13
- 2011 - 16
- 2012 - 18
- 2013 - 19
- 2014 - 21
- 2015 - 25
- 2016 - 52
- 2017 - 66
- 2018 - 101
- 2019 - 67
- 2020 - 132
The northern interior area also saw its 10-year record broken with 85 in 2020. The previous high for the area was also in 2018 with 63.
A breakdown for the area is as follows:
- 2010 - 7
- 2011 - 8
- 2012 - 12
- 2013 - 8
- 2014 - 11
- 2015 - 15
- 2016 - 24
- 2017 - 35
- 2018 - 63
- 2019 - 34
- 2020 - 85
The BC Coroners Service says none of the illicit drug overdose deaths happened at supervised consumption sites or drug overdose prevention sites.
Northern Health's illicit drug overdose deaths over the past 10 years. By BC Coroners Service
