The pace has slowed down for Coquitlam to match its record-breaking death toll by illicit drug overdoses in a single year: 34.
But, sadly, the latest total is still too many lives lost.
The BC Coroners Service's updated report showed 10 people died in Coquitlam from unregulated drug supply in the first six months of 2023
That means two more people succumbed to toxic drugs between May and June after eight were tallied by the end of April, including three in that month and five between January and March.
Coquitlam's year-to-date number is among more than 1,200 deaths across B.C., including 184 in June, with fentanyl still the main factor contributing to the province's public health crisis of the last seven years.
"British Columbia is continuing to lose community members at record rates as a result of the toxicity of the unregulated drug market," said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe in a statement today (July 19).
"This health emergency is not confined to one neighbourhood or one demographic. Anyone accessing an illicit substance is at risk of serious harm or death."
Illicit drugs have claimed 86 lives in 2023 to date in the Fraser North health service delivery area, which includes Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
An exact death toll in the Tri-Cities' local health area is expected to be updated in August, according to the BC Coroners Service.
There were 18 illicit drug overdose deaths in the Tri-Cities between January and April 2023.
In June, fentanyl accounted for more than 90 per cent of "expedited toxicological testing," Lapointe added, with the highest number of deaths tallied in Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria this year.
Toxic drugs are claiming men's lives 77 per cent of the time, as well as residents aged 30 to 59 at a 70 per cent rate.
More than 12,500 people have died from toxic drugs in B.C. since the public health emergency was declared in April 2016.
"As coroners, we speak every day to families who are grieving the loss of a loved one," Lapointe said.
"Our agency continues to recommend rapid expansion of a safer drug supply throughout the province to reduce the significant harms associated with the toxic illicit drug market and prevent future deaths."
