The deadly opioid fentanyl has been detected in more than four of every five overdose deaths in B-C in the first seven months of this year.
The B-C Coroners Service says that's an increase of 143 per cent from the same period last year.
It says a total of 876 people died in B-C between January and July, up from 483 fatalities in the first seven months of 2016.
BC's Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe says fentanyl-related deaths outnumber any other deaths in the province except for natural deaths.
"Of deaths that are reported to the BC Coroners Service, other than the natural deaths, drug overdoses are by far the latgest number of deaths we are now seeing surpassing motor vehicle accidents, suicides and any other type of traumatic death."
The overdose-reversal drug naloxone has been widely distributed in B-C but Lapointe says most of the fatalities have been among those who use drugs alone and aren't able to get help.