The number of illicit drug deaths in BC decreased slightly for the second month in a row but is still far higher than for the same period last year.
Provisional data from the BC Coroners Service shows that a total of 102 persons died as a result of illicit drug use during the month of February, an average of more than seven deaths every two days. In contrast, there were 59 illicit drug-related deaths in February 2016.
Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe continues to urge extreme vigilance by those using illicit substances.