The BC Coroners Service has published Fentanyl-Detected Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths, January 1, 2012 to August 31, 2016. Excerpt from the summary:
• There were 302 illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected from January through August 2016. This is a 211% increase over the number of deaths (97) occurring during the same period in 2015.
• From January through August 2016, an average of 37.8 fentanyl-detected illicit drug overdose deaths occurred each month. Most decedents (79%) were male, and over half (60%) were between 19 and 39 years of age.
• Fraser Health Authority had the highest number (100) of illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected from January 2016, followed by Vancouver Island Health Authority (67) and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (65).
• The Health Service Delivery Areas with the most fentanyl-detected illicit drug overdose deaths from January through August 2016 were Vancouver HSDA (54), Fraser South HSDA (48) and Fraser North HSDA (37). When looking at individual townships over the same time period, the highest numbers of deaths were seen in Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria.
• A sample review of toxicological findings for 207 fentanyl-detected illicit drug overdose deaths in 2016 was conducted. In 96% of these deaths, at least one substance other than fentanyl was detected. The four most frequently detected drugs were as follows: cocaine (46% of deaths); ethyl alcohol (36% of deaths); methamphetamine (34% of deaths); heroin (30% of deaths).
• Preliminary data for January through August 2016 suggest that the proportion of apparent illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected (alone or in combination with other drugs) increased to approximately 61% in 2016. Proportions in previous years were as follows: 2012 = 5%; 2013 = 15%; 2014 = 25%; 2015 = 30%.
