The number of opioid poisoning deaths in Abbotsford have remained about the same for the last two years.
A report released this week by the BC Coroners Service shows there were 88 such deaths here in 2022, compared to 87 the year before. The report also illustrates opioid death rates based on a community’s population.
Abbotsford’s rate per 100,000 people was 52.1 last year, which again is similar to the year before, which was 51.4.
While those numbers have stabilized, it was revealed last week that the number of calls for opioid overdoses and poisonings was still rising. Abbotsford had 1,641 calls, according to the BC Emergency Health Services report. It was the community with the fifth highest number of overdose calls in B.C. in 2022.
In 2021, the number of overdose calls in Abbotsford was 1,372.
The number of overdoses in Abbotsford annually, prior to the opioid epidemic and the prolific use of fentanyl, was as low as seven people per year (2012 and 2014).
By comparison, Vancouver had 319 overdose deaths, at a rate of 470.8 per 100,000 people. Hope had eight overdose deaths, at a rate of 87.9. Chilliwack was not included in the report, but Mission had 33 overdose deaths, at a rate of 67 per 100,000.
The coroners annual report always includes trends which help identify where help is most needed.
It stated that across B.C. in November and December 2022, the number of deaths by overdose were about 6.4 per day.
It added that:
• There were 2,272 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths. This is the second largest number of suspected deaths ever recorded in a calendar year, behind 2021 (2,306).
• 70 per cent of those dying were aged 30 to 59, and 79 per cent were male.
• The highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (680 and 637 deaths, respectively), making up 58 per cent of all such deaths during 2022.
• 84 per cent of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred inside (55 per cent in private residences and 29 per cent in other inside residences including social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, and hotels and other indoor locations) and 15 per cent occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks, etc.
• One death in 2022 occurred at an overdose prevention site. This was the first recorded death at a site in B.C.
• There is no indication that prescribed safe supply is contributing to illicit drug deaths.
• The proportion of deaths that are 50+ years of age has steadily increased from 2015.
READ MORE: Number of overdose calls in Abbotsford jumped 46% as toxic drug deaths continue to rise
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