Two more people died of unregulated toxic drugs in Langley in September, bringing the total of local deaths in the ongoing overdose crisis to 33 this year.
Data released by the B.C. Coroner’s Service shows that 175 peopled died across B.C. in September, a 10 per cent decrease from the same month last year, but still one of the highest levels of deaths in the past decade.
At a rate of just over 3.6 deaths every month, Langley is on track to have the same number of deaths as in 2022 – 44 deaths. That was the second-worst year in Langley’s history for unregulated drug deaths, down from 58 in 2021.
“It is with heavy heart that B.C. continues to lose loved ones throughout our communities,” said Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“In September, we lost 175 people to the poisoned drug supply circulating in our province,” Whiteside said in a statement. “Even though this number is down slightly from the same time last year and the previous month, we can’t forget we’re not just talking about statistics. We’re talking about irreplaceable people. Every day, families, friends and communities are navigating tides of deep grief and trauma in the wake of lost loved ones. No words can soften these losses.
The Coroner’s Service data continues to tell a story of deaths caused by fentanyl, mixed with a soup of other illicit drugs.
This year so far, 83 per cent of all lethal overdoses have contained fentanyl.
Expedited toxicity screening has shown even higher levels, with fentanyl or one of its analogues in 89.5 per cent of deaths in September.
However, stimulants were also present in 74.5 per cent of cases, benzodiazepines were in 44.4 per cent of cases, and other opioids were found in 11.8 per cent.
The vast majority of deaths took place in private homes, with 48 per cent of victims found in their own or another person’s dwelling.
That was even higher in Fraser Health, where 66 per cent of deaths took place in private homes.
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