There were five fentanyl related overdoses in Prince George in the month of June.
New data out today from the BC Coroners Service shows the spike, increasing the total to nine so far this year, eclipsing last years seven.
While the Coroners Service no longer offers town by town numbers for general overdoses (due to privacy concerns), 31 people have lost their lives in Northern BC so far this year – 75% of them due to fentanyl.
Northern BC continues to have the highest rate of apparent illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected.
Across the province, a review of toxicological findings for 207 fentanyl related deaths in 2016 was carried out by the Coroner Service. In 96% of these deaths, at least one substance other than fentanyl was detected, most frequently; cocaine (46% of deaths), alcohol (36%), methamphetamine (34%), heroin (30%).
Men continue to overwhelmingly account for most overdose deaths, while people aged 20-39 are highest at risk.
433 people have lost their lives to overdose in the first seven months of 2016 – more than two a day.
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