Nine people died in May from unregulated drug deaths in Abbotsford, and three in Chilliwack, according to the newest data from the BC Coroner’s Service.
Overall, the month of May saw a very minor decrease in the number of fatal overdoses in B.C., but the numbers are still high.
The monthly report shows that 176 people died from unregulated drugs in May, a rate equal to about 5.7 deaths a day.
The monthly numbers aren’t available for all individual communities — that’s released quarterly — but they are available for Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
Abbotsford now has had 39 unregulated drug deaths in 2023, with nine of those deaths occurring in May. Chilliwack has risen from 29 deaths this year to 32.
Other communities with similar numbers so far this are Kamloops (38), Kelowna (36) and Prince George (31). Vancouver has already seen 282 unregulated deaths, and Surrey has seen 96.
The coroner’s service also noted that the lives of at least 12,264 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs in the seven years since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016.
READ MORE: Number of deaths due to drug overdose this year hits 30 in Abbotsford
@CHWKcommunity
jessica.peters@abbynews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.