Coroner Reports Record High Average of 7 Drug-Related Deaths Per Day in British Columbia
The British Columbia Coroners Service says the province witnessed a record-breaking 2,511 lives lost to drug-related fatalities in 2023.
“We cannot bring our deceased loved ones back, but we can and must do much more to protect the lives of tens of thousands of our family members, friends and colleagues still at risk.”
The nearly seven deaths-per-day average is the highest death toll reported by the agency in a single year.
“My commitment to ending this crisis is unwavering,” she said.
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“Our government is taking action to strengthen mental-health and addiction services across the spectrum of needs—from early intervention and prevention, to housing, to treatment and recovery. Our goal is to ensure that accessible, effective care is there for everyone, right when they need it.”
Analyzing the data, 2023’s figures showed an average of 6.9 deaths per day, a 5 percent increase from 2022. (In comparison, the provincial death rate stood at 45.7 per 100,000 residents.) The majority of victims were men aged 30 to 59. Notably, there was a decline in the death rate among younger age groups, particularly those aged 19 to 29 and under 19.
The crisis spared no region in B.C., with areas like Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside experiencing death rates 12 times higher than the provincial average. The next-highest were in Hope, Alberni/Clayoquot, Terrace, and Greater Campbell River. Four out of five regional health authorities reported record-high death numbers and rates.
Fentanyl and its analogues, detected in over 85 percent of toxicology tests, remain the primary culprit in the ongoing drug crisis. In contrast, prescribed medications like hydromorphone were detected in about 3 percent of the tests, indicating their limited contribution to fatalities.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Coroners Service said that unregulated drugs are now the leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 59 in British Columbia, surpassing homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural diseases combined.
Since B.C.’s declaration of a public health emergency in April 2016, at least 13,794 lives have been lost to unregulated drugs in the province.
The coroner’s report included other key findings such as the prevalence of smoking as the most common mode of drug consumption and the spatial distribution of deaths, with the majority occurring indoors. The report documented one death taking place in an overdose prevention site.
In response to the crisis, Ms. Lapointe urged political leaders to develop a thoughtful, comprehensive plan that prioritizes people’s well-being.
“As we approach the eighth anniversary of the declaration of the public-health emergency that has cost so many lives across B.C., our province needs a co-ordinated, evidence-based response that is commensurate with the scale of this health crisis,” Ms. Lapointe said.
