B.C. overdose deaths in January drop 30 per cent to 152, continuing downward trend

The British Columbia coroner says 152 people died of toxic drug overdoses in January, marking four consecutive months that the toll was under 160.

January's figure was down more than 30 per cent from the same time last year when there were 219 deaths.

The coroner's service says half of those who died in January were between the ages of 40 and 59, while three were children or youth under the age of 18.

The powerful opioid fentanyl and its analogues were found in 77 per cent of tests on those who died, followed by methamphetamine, while 46 per cent of those who died had bromazolam in their system, a benzodiazepine that reduces the effectiveness of overdose-reversing drugs.

The coroner says while the number of deaths were down overall, the Fraser and Interior health regions saw increases in their overdose toll.

The service says about 46 per cent per cent of the deaths reported occurred in a private home and its investigations show that 57 per cent of those who died smoked their drugs.

There have recently been declines in drug deaths across North America, with Health Canada reporting a 12 per cent decline from January to September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

The U.C. Centers for Disease Control says reported U.S. drug deaths in October 2024 were down more than 25 per cent, year on year.