By Canadian Press

Report to be released that examines four years of overdose deaths in British Columbia

Mar 9, 2022 | 2:03 AM

VICTORIA — A report by a death review panel investigating the overdose crisis in British Columbia was scheduled to be released today by the province’s chief coroner. 

A statement from the coroner’s office says the panel reviewed 6,000 deaths from toxic illicit drugs between 2017 and 2021.

There were 2,224 suspected overdose deaths in the province last year, which was a 26 per cent jump over the previous year.

B.C. declared a public health emergency in 2016 when the powerful opioid fentanyl created a surge in deaths. 

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe has called for more access to safe supplies of drugs as well as the expansion of treatment and recovery programs.

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A similar review released in 2018 made recommendations to increase treatment and recovery programs, expand programs offering prescription medication to those who are addicted and more testing of illicit drugs. 

The number of deaths started to decline in 2019, but officials have said it spiked again during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people were isolated in their homes and the supply of illicit drugs grew more toxic. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2022.

The Canadian Press