Fraser Valley/Victoria – The overdose crisis that started in 2016 continues to ramp upwards.
Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service’s report on illicit drug toxicity deaths for March 2022:
“It’s tragic that 165 people lost their lives to the toxic drug crisis in March. My heart is with the families and friends who are grieving, and my thanks to the front-line workers and peers who tried to save them.
In 2022 so far ( to March 31) Abbotsford with 25 deaths, Chilliwack has 12. Both are a record pace.
The number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in March 2022 equates to about 5.3 deaths per day.
• In 2022, 74% of those dying were aged 30 to 59, and 77% were male.
• The townships experiencing the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2022 are
Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria.
• By Health Authority (HA), in 2022, the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths were in
Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (182 and 156 deaths, respectively), making
up 62% of all such deaths during this period.
The March 31, 2022 BC Coroners report is here.
