A total of 1,468 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic drug crisis through August this year, just one short of last year’s record mark through 8 months.
169 illicit overdose deaths were recorded in the month of August, according to the most recent preliminary report from the Coroners Service.
That falls short of the 193 recorded in July, and the 197 from last August, but still has the province on pace to surpass 2,000 deaths for the second year in a row.
Northern Health still has the highest rate of deaths in 2022, at 52.4 per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than second place Vancouver Coastal Health’s 48.1.
In the Northwest, that rate climbs to 63.5 per 100,000, and rockets to 101.2 in the Terrace Local Health Area, the third highest of any Local Health Area.
