Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Toxic drugs leading cause of death in B.C. for those age 10 to 59: coroner

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Sep, 2023 01:47 PM
  • Toxic drugs leading cause of death in B.C. for those age 10 to 59: coroner

British Columbia's coroner says drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in the province for those aged 10 to 59, far larger than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined. 

The statistic comes as the latest figures are released for August, saying there were 174 toxic-drug deaths last month. 

The numbers represent the lowest monthly death toll recorded since June of 2022, however the coroners' service cautions that the data is preliminary and could change as investigations are completed. 

More than 1,600 people have died in the first eight months of this year, bringing the number of overdose deaths in the province to almost 13,000 since a public-health emergency was declared in April 2016. 

A statement from the coroner says almost two-thirds of those who died in 2023 smoked their drugs, underscoring the need for safe spaces to consume drugs. 

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says the relentless scale of the public-health crisis requires a proportionate response, and it continues to recommend urgent collaboration from government ministries to save lives. 

"Improvements in the quality and reach of harm reduction and evidence-based treatment services are essential, as is the critical need to ensure that those at risk of dying can access safer, regulated drugs. If we cannot implement these changes, our loved ones will continue to die," Lapointe says in the statement. 

The highest rates of death this year have been in the Northern Health region, where 58 people per 100,000 have died, while that number is 56 per 100,000 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. 

The coroner's statistics show 70 per cent of the deaths were people aged 30 to 59 and 78 per cent of those were male. 

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says in a statement that it's clear that communities across B.C. are grappling with the devastating effects of the toxic-drug crisis. 

"Building on what we have learned, we are focusing on early intervention and expanding support services everywhere," she says in a statement. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares
The Regional District of Central Okanagan posted the evacuation alert for as many as 4800 properties just before 10:30pm, Wednesday, about four hours after the McDougall Creek blaze was spotted 10 kilometres northwest of West Kelowna.

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar
Homicide investigators in British Columbia say they are seeking a third suspect in the killing of Surrey Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down on June 18. Pierotti told a media briefing that the suspected getaway driver waited for the other suspects in a silver 2008 Toyota Camry that was parked near 121 Street and 68 Avenue before and during the killing.

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta
Located at 1054 - 54A St., KinVillage Apartments will have 145 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom homes. All units will be adaptable or accessible, allowing the suites to be easily and inexpensively modified to meet residents’ needs as they age. 

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta

China leaves Canada off list of countries approved for group tours

China leaves Canada off list of countries approved for group tours
China has lifted a pandemic ban on group tours to several countries, including the United States and Australia, but tourists are still be barred from group visits to Canada. The change announced by China's culture and tourism ministry last week allows Chinese and online travel agencies to book group tours and packages for Chinese tourists in 70 more countries all over the world.

China leaves Canada off list of countries approved for group tours

Winds, heat and lightning trigger concern as two British Columbia wildfires surge

Winds, heat and lightning trigger concern as two British Columbia wildfires surge
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation order for the area southwest of Keremeos affected by two wildfires that have been burning for several weeks. Thirteen properties have been ordered evacuated along the Ashnola River and in the Snowy Protected area of Cathedral Provincial Park, including Cathedral Lakes Lodge.

Winds, heat and lightning trigger concern as two British Columbia wildfires surge

Housing crisis: Feds stick by immigration plan, rethink international student flows

Housing crisis: Feds stick by immigration plan, rethink international student flows
Academics, commerical banks and policy thinkers have all been warning the federal government that the pace of population growth, facilitated by immigration, is making the housing crisis worse. Canada is also experiencing a boom in the number of temporary residents who are coming to the country, which includes international students and temporary foreign workers.  

Housing crisis: Feds stick by immigration plan, rethink international student flows