The BC Coroners service reports the number of lives lost to illicit toxic drugs in the province was 187 in August, and 183 in September.
The Coroners Service says there have been 1,749 deaths so far this year, a nine per cent decline compared to the same period in 2023, but still an average of about six deaths per day.
On Northern Vancouver Island during the first nine months of this year 82 lives were lost, on Central Vancouver Island 155 people died, and on Southern Vancouver Island there were 130 deaths.
In Nanaimo, there were more than 70 deaths from toxic drugs by the end of September.
There have been six deaths in 2024 in Powell River and 10 on the Sunshine Coast.
More than two-thirds of those who have died this year were between the ages of 30 and 59, and three-quarters were male.
The rate of death among females is higher than last year and is now 21 per 100,000, which is 60 per cent higher than it was in 2020.
Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in British Columbia for people between the ages of 10 and 59, and accounts for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural disease combined.
