BR Overdose Crisis – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Jan 19, 2017 2:30

New numbers show last month was British Columbia’s worst ever when it comes to illicit drug overdose deaths.

December saw 142 fatalities, topping the record of 128 set the previous month.

The latest statistics put the overall number of deaths in the province last year to 914 — or about five dying people every two days.

B-C Health Minister Terry Lake says last year’s toll could have been far higher and is warning the federal government that the epidemic is spreading across Canada.

Lake notes there were no overdose deaths at Insite, the safe-injection site in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

People aged 30 to 49 made up the biggest portion of overdose deaths in 2016, with males accounting for four fifths of the overall toll.

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(The Canadian Press)

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