A record number of 78 lives were lost in Burnaby during 2020 due to illicit drug overdose deaths, according to new BC Coroners Service Data.
The province says there were 210 deaths in November and another 215 in December. The total for 2021 was 2,224, which equates to an increase of 26% compared to 2020 (1,767).
The service says in 2021, an average of 6.1 deaths per day were recorded, with the highest townships being Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria.
The public health emergency into substance-related harms was declared in April 2016.
"Over the past seven years, our province has experienced a devastating loss of life due to a toxic illicit drug supply," BC Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a news release.
"This public health emergency has impacted families and communities across the province and shows no sign of abating.
"In 2021 alone, more than 2,200 families experienced the devastating loss of a loved one. In the past seven years, the rate of death due to illicit drug toxicity in our province has risen more than 400%. Drug toxicity is now second only to cancers in B.C. for potential years of life lost.
"We cannot simply hope that things will improve. It is long past time to end the chaos and devastation in our communities resulting from the flourishing illicit drug market, and to ensure, on an urgent basis, access across the province to a safe, reliable regulated drug supply."
Final 2021 data show last year was the deadliest for Burnaby in the past decade.
Deaths in the city for the past 10 years are as follows:
- 2021 = 78
- 2020 = 57
- 2019 = 29
- 2018 = 49
- 2017 = 44
- 2016 = 40
- 2015 = 15
- 2014 = 11
- 2013 = 12
- 2012 = 10
- 2011 = 10
- Total = 355
Burnaby's illicit drug toxicity death rates per 100,000 for 2016 to 2021 are as follows:
- 2021 = 30
- 2020 = 22.1
- 2019 = 11.4
- 2018 = 19.6
- 2017 = 17.9
- 2016 = 16.4
2021 overdose crisis by the numbers
• In November and December 2021, there were 210 and 215 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths, respectively, the two largest numbers of suspected deaths ever recorded in a month
• Overall, in 2021, there were on average 6.1 deaths per day
• In 2021, 71% of those dying were aged 30 to 59, and 78% were male
• The townships experiencing the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2021 are Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria
• By health authority in 2021, the highest numbers of illicit drug toxicity deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (765 and 615 deaths, respectively), making up 62% of all such deaths during this period
• By health authority in 2021, the highest rates were in Vancouver Coastal Health (49 deaths per 100,000 individuals) and Northern Health (48 per 100,000). Overall, the rate in B.C. is 43 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2021
• By health service delivery area in 2021, the highest rates were in Vancouver
Thompson Cariboo, Northwest, Northern Interior, and Fraser East
• By local health area in 2021, the highest rates were in Upper Skeena, Merritt, Enderby, Lillooet, and North Thompson
• In 2021, 83% of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred inside (56% in private residences and 28% in other residences including social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, and hotels and other indoor locations) and 15% occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks, etc.
• In Vancouver Coastal, other residences (47%) were the most common place of illicit drug toxicity deaths followed by private residences (36%) between 2018 and 2021
• No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites, and
• There is no indication that prescribed safe supply is contributing to illicit drug deaths
Trends
• Male illicit drug toxicity death rates have remained at a high rate. Female rates have trended higher in recent months
• Illicit drug toxicity death rates among 19+ years have remained high, while rates among 0-18 years remain stable
• The proportion of deaths that are 50+ years of age has steadily increased year after year for the past six years. In 2021, 38% of deaths were 50 years or over
• Illicit drug toxicity death rates for all health authority rates remain high
- with files from Jeremy Hainsworth, Glacier Media
