12.62°C Vancouver

Apr 5, 2024 8:19 PM - The Canadian Press

Toxic drug supply claims 177 lives in B.C. in February: Coroners Service

Share On
toxic-drug-supply-claims-177-lives-in-b-c-in-february-coroners-service
The service says at least 175 people have died because of the toxic drug supply in each of the last 20 consecutive months.

The BC Coroners Service says 177 people died in February due to "toxic, unregulated drugs."

The service says at least 175 people have died because of the toxic drug supply in each of the last 20 consecutive months.

It says the latest numbers are down 11 per cent compared with February 2023, but the province still saw an average of about six deaths per day this past February.

A statement released by the Public Safety Ministry says the overdose death rate in B.C. is still "significantly elevated," with 40.1 deaths per 100,000 residents in the first two months of this year.

The statement says that's double the rate seen in 2016, when the province first declared a public health emergency over toxic drug deaths and since then more than 14,200 people have died.

The ministry says fentanyl or other strong opioids were found in around 80 per cent of overdose deaths, along with other substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine, and the majority of deaths result from "mixed drug toxicity."

Latest news

b-c-wildfire-service-announces-ban-on-most-open-fires-in-coastal-areas
BCMay 28, 2025

B.C. Wildfire Service announces ban on most open fires in coastal areas

The BC Wildfire Service has announced open fire bans that will prohibit most burning activities in most coastal areas of the province, with exceptions for Haida Gwaii. The ban on Category 2 and Category 3 open fires in the Coastal Fire Centre comes into effect at noon Friday, and the service says it's being imposed to reduce the risk of wildfires. The service says the ban will remain in place until Oct. 31 or until it is rescinded. Category 1 campfires that are no more than half a metre high by half a metre wide will still be allowed, as well as cooking stoves. The bans cover west of the Coast
oilers-win-game-4-push-dallas-stars-on-brink-of-elimination
CanadaMay 28, 2025

Oilers win game 4, push Dallas Stars on brink of elimination

The Edmonton Oilers are just one victory away from clinching the N-H-L's Western Conference playoff series and moving on to a second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. After dropping the series opener to the Dallas Stars, the Oilers have won the last three games, including last night's 4-1 victory before hometown fans at Rogers Place. Edmonton could send the Stars packing with a Game-5 win tomorrow night in Texas.Tonight, the defending champion Florida Panthers will try to wrap up the Eastern final tonight as they take a 3-1 lead into Game 5 against the host Carolina Hurricanes.
defence-minister-says-cost-of-trumps-proposed-missile-defence-project-still-unknown
CanadaMay 28, 2025

Defence minister says cost of Trump's proposed missile defence project still unknown

Defence Minister David McGuinty says that Canada still doesn't know what it would cost to join U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence program. On Tuesday, in a social media post, Trump said it would cost Canada $61 billion to join as a sovereign country but nothing at all if it became a U.S. state. Trump claimed that Canada is "considering the offer." When asked about Trump's comments, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he won't negotiate in public. Trump announced plans for a complex missile defence system modelled after Israel's "Iron Dome" earlier this month and c
b-c-minimum-wage-increases-to-17-85-on-june-1
BCMay 28, 2025

B.C. minimum wage increases to $17.85 on June 1

British Columbia's Labour Ministry says the province's lowest paid workers are getting a pay bump as of Sunday. It says the minimum wage will increase from $17.40 to $17.85 an hour. The ministry says the 2.6 per cent increase also applies to pay rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, live-in camp leaders and app-based delivery and ride-hail services workers. The government says it has made regular, gradual increases to the minimum wage to provide certainty for workers and predictability for businesses. It says this is the fourth year of the government's ongoin
senior-akali-leader-sukhdev-singh-dhindsa-is-no-more
IndiaMay 28, 2025

Senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is no more

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, one of the stalwart leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal, has passed away. He was 89 years old. According to the information received, he had been ill for some time and was undergoing treatment in a hospital in Mohali, where he breathed his last today. He was honored with the Padma Bhushan award in 2019. Dhindsa has had a long political journey with the late Parkash Singh Badal. He entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after winning the election as an independent candidate in 1972, after which he joined the Shiromani Akali Dal under the leadership of Harchand Singh Longowal. H

Related News