Illicit drug toxicity deaths continue to rise locally and provincially, new data shows.
In the first four months of 2022, 32 people in Burnaby have died from illicit drugs. The numbers are the latest from the BC Coroners Service.
In all of 2021, a record 77 deaths were tallied in Burnaby.
Provincially, toxic illicit drugs claimed 195 lives in May — the highest number of deaths ever recorded in that month, the service states.
This represents a 13 per cent increase compared to 172 deaths in May 2021. It was also a 20 per cent increase from April of this year (162).
The number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in May equates to roughly 6.3 deaths per day.
"After a catastrophic 2021, I am saddened to report that we are, once again, on pace to lose a record number of our community members in 2022," chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a news release.
"The illicit drug supply in this province continues to be volatile and inconsistent, and presents a significant risk to anyone who uses drugs. I strongly urge those purchasing illicit substances to take every available precaution to protect yourself. Please start with a small amount of the drug, and make sure someone is present who can provide naloxone and call for emergency assistance if you experience a negative effect. Your life is at risk."
By local health area, Lillooet, Mission, Cariboo/Chilcotin, Powell River and Merritt have the highest reported rates of death.
The BC Coroners Service says drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in the province.
"Every life lost to illicit drugs in our province is a preventable tragedy," Lapointe added.
"Panel members from the Coroners Service Death Review Panel into Illicit Drug Toxicity deaths recommended urgent action to address the terrible loss of life our province continues to experience. Recommended actions in their March 2022 report include a provincial framework for the distribution of safer drug supply, the development of a 30/60/90-day action plan with clear goals, targets and deliverable timeframes for reducing the number of drug toxicity deaths, and completing a framework for establishing a substance-use system of care. Responses to these recommendations have not yet been received."
The townships experiencing the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths this year are Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria.
"A devastating 195 people lost their lives to the poisoned drug supply in May. I'm grateful to everyone on the front lines of this public health crisis for their extraordinary efforts. Without them, B.C. would have lost more lives," Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson said in a separate news reelease.
"The early months of 2022 saw a decrease in toxic drug deaths, but despite unprecedented work to turn the tide on the crisis, this trend tragically did not continue in May.
"Six people a day are dying due to the toxic drug crisis in this province and it's nothing short of tragic. But it's the reason we must persevere and continue the vital work of reducing the risk of toxic drug poisonings and saving lives."
