189 people in B.C. died in October due to toxic drugs

October marked the 37th consecutive month in which more than 150 people were suspected to have died from toxic drugs in British Columbia, according to the provincial government.

On Thursday the province released the latest statistics from the toxic drug crisis, which was declared a public health emergency in B.C. seven years ago.

It said 189 people died from illicit toxic drugs in October, bringing the number of deaths to 2,039 in the first 10 months of 2023. 

Since April 2016, when the provincial emergency was declared, a reported 13,317 people in B.C. have died after taking unregulated drugs — a rate of more than six people per day.

"We recognize the depth of grief these numbers represent, far beyond what any statistics can convey," said Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside in a separate release.

"Nothing will ever replace these people in the hearts of those who love them. Our government continues to work urgently to provide access to effective and compassionate care."

October's numbers are consistent with the trends of the crisis. The majority of those who died were between 30 and 59 years of age and more than three-quarters were male.

The largest number of deaths in 2023 so far have occurred in B.C.'s bigger cities such as Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria. But Northern Health has the highest rate of deaths, with 61 per 100,000 residents.

Illicit fentanyl remains the predominate toxic substance linked to the fatalities.

The number of deaths in October represents a nine per cent decrease from the October 2022, when there were 208, and a seven per cent increase over the number of deaths in September 2023, when there were 177.

On Nov. 1, the latest report from a panel of experts into toxic-drug deaths in B.C. said an enhanced model for safer supply — outside of the health-care system — is needed now to stem ongoing deaths.

The report, called An Urgent Response to a Continuing Crisis, said the rate of fatalities has doubled since April 2016 and as many as 225,000 people remain at risk of injury or death from the crisis.

It said the quickest way to limit deaths from toxic drugs is to reduce dependence on the unregulated toxic drug supply by creating access to a quality-controlled, regulated supply of drugs for people at risk.

Whiteside rejected the idea of a non-medicalized safer supply, but said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is working on a program that would expand the prescription model.