Toxic-drug deaths hit record levels in Nanaimo, rising more than 40%

Nanaimo has set a toxic-drugdeath record, with the number of deaths last year up more than 40 per cent from 2022.

There were 112 toxic drug deaths in the city last year, the highest ever in the community and up 43.5 per cent from 2022 — well above the average five per cent increase for the province as a whole.

Nanaimo had 78 illicit drug deaths in 2022.

Greater Victoria saw 168 toxic drug deaths last year, slightly down from the 171 deaths in 2022 but behind only Vancouver and Surrey for the highest number of deaths last year in B.C.

So far this year, a total of 198 people have died from toxic drugs in this province.

Nanaimo, with 13, has seen the third-highest numbers of toxic drug deaths in B.C. so far this year, behind Vancouver with 41 and Surrey with 19.

Kelowna has seen 11 deaths so far this year, while Greater Victoria has had nine.

Toxic drug deaths hit a record high in B.C. last year, when at least 2,511 people died as a result of illicit drugs, up from 2,383 in 2022.

Fuelling the high numbers of deaths was illicit fentanyl and its analogues, which were found in more than 85 per cent of test results in 2023.

“Tragically, toxic, illicit drugs are continuing to cause unprecedented numbers of deaths across our province,” said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.

“This crisis, driven primarily by unregulated fentanyl, has cost our province dearly in the loss of much-loved and valued members of our communities.

“We cannot bring our deceased loved ones back, but we can and must do much more to protect the lives of tens of thousands of our family members, friends and colleagues still at risk.”

Numbers of toxic drug deaths in B.C. last year equated to an average of 6.9 people dying each day, the coroner said.

Unregulated toxic drugs are the leading cause of death in the 10 to 59 age group, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined.

At least 13,794 British Columbians have died due to unregulated drugs since the emergency was declared in April 2016.