Men, in prime of life, most likely to overdose
Illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. rose in January compared to December, with 125 people believed to have died from street narcotics or unprescribed medications.
The provincial coroners service says the number of deaths in January increased 25 per cent from December, but decreased 12 per cent from January 2017.
New statistics released by the coroners service on Tuesday say the communities with the highest number of illicit drug overdoses in January were Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria, with 33, 15 and 14 overdose deaths respectively.
The number of overdose deaths in January in Penticton is not listed in the report, but throughout the Okanagan there were 12 overdose deaths.
Only cities reporting more than five suspected overdose deaths in a month are shown in the report.
Across Interior Health, there were 19 overdose deaths in January, up from 18 overdose deaths in January 2017.
Half of those who died in B.C. were between 19 and 39, and 82 per cent were men, stated the report. Ninety-four per cent of deaths occurred indoors, while only five per cent occurred outside, and there were no deaths at supervised consumption or overdose prevention sites.
The coroners service also says fatal overdoses were higher during the five days after income assistance payments were issued compared with other days of the month.
The statistics include confirmed and suspected illicit overdose deaths. The data is subject to change as investigations are concluded.
The province has been gripped by an overdose crisis fuelled by the powerful opioid fentanyl, claiming a record 1,436 lives last year.