Drug overdose deaths are trending downward in Port Alberni and across BC.
The BC Coroners Service says there were 69 suspected overdoses deaths in the province in October, a 42 per cent decrease from those killed by illicit drugs in the same month last year…
In Port Alberni, 8 people have died of toxic drug overdoses so far this year, compared to 10 last year, and 12 in 2017
Coroner Andy Watson says despite the decrease, drug toxicity overdoses continue to be an epidemic.
“Eight deaths in 2019, it’s down from the 2018 and 2017 fatality numbers, but still obviously the risk is high,” he said. “We know paramedics are responding at relatively the same rate they were last year across the province in terms of the overdose and poisoning calls they’re getting.”
Watson added 89% of toxicity deaths are individuals aged 19-59, and males account for 9 out of every 10 deaths.
He said Campbell River and Nanaimo are the two hardest hit communites per capita on Vancouver Island.
