Northern Health is among the highest number of unregulated drug deaths in January 2025 compared to other health authorities.
That’s according to the BC Coroners Service, stating NH had 32 deaths per 100,000 individuals, second behind Vancouver Costal Health with 40 deaths per 100,000.
Last year, Prince George had one of the highest with 102.6, with the other local health areas being Vancouver-Centre North, Lillooet, Greater Campbell River, and Terrace.
Provincially, there were 152 suspected unregulated deaths in January, equating to roughly 4.9 deaths per day.
68 per cent of those deaths were aged 30 to 59, with 79 per cent being male.
Smoking was the most common way of consumption with 57 per cent, followed by nasal insufflation (14 per cent), injection (13 per cent), and oral (4 per cent).
Fentanyl was detected in 77 percent of unregulated drug deaths which underwent toxicology testing, followed by methamphetamine (52%) and bromazolam (46%).
A more detailed summary can be found here.
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