B.C. records highest number of fatal overdoses in a single month, with 170 deaths
Overdoses claimed more lives in May than COVID-19 has claimed all year in province
CBC News (Canada)
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Thursday, June 11, 2020
The BC Coroners Service said 170 people died of an illicit drug overdose in May, the highest total ever recorded for a single month in provincial history. It's also more people than have died from COVID-19 in B.C. all year. "It's frustrating to see the number of illicit drug deaths go up and to reach a new high ... It's sad to see this many people impacted, losing their lives," said Andy Watson, a spokesperson for the coroners service.The province said 167 people have died of COVID-19 since B.C.'s first case of the virus was confirmed six months ago. The annual total for overdoses in B.C. was 554 as of May 31. (See also: An emotional Dr. Bonnie Henry urges family, friends to reach out to drug users after 170 die in May)
