Overdose deaths in B.C. increase in January; most in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey
VANCOUVER — Illicit drug overdose deaths in British Columbia rose in January compared with December, with 125 people believed to have died from street narcotics or unprescribed medications.
The provincial coroner’s service says the number of deaths in January increased 25 per cent from December, but decreased 12 per cent from January 2017.
The province has been gripped by an overdose crisis fuelled by the powerful opioid fentanyl, claiming a record 1,436 lives last year.
New statistics released by the coroner’s service on Tuesday say the communities with the highest number of illicit drug overdoses in January were Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria.