No unregulated drug deaths were recorded in July while four lives were claimed in August across northwest B.C.
According to the BC Coroners Service, that equates to about 5.1 deaths per 100,000 people in August.
It also brings the region’s total this year to 17.
Northern Health recorded five deaths in July and 13 in August, bringing this year’s total to 87.
The health authority continues to hold the highest rate of unregulated drug deaths this year at 43.3 per 100,000 people, followed by Island Health at 35.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
Provincially, unregulated drug toxicity claimed 113 lives in July and 126 in August, equating to about 3.6 deaths per day in July and 4.1 in August.
The total number of deaths recorded this year across the province is 1,015.
Those between the ages of 30 and 59 account for 69 per cent of drug toxicity deaths in the province.
Males account for 76 per cent of unregulated drug deaths reported for the BC Coroners Service so far this year.
