Northwest B.C. sees unregulated drug deaths drop in September

One person died to unregulated drugs across northwest B.C. in September according to new data from the BC Coroners Service.

That equates to 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people and is down from the four recorded in August.

Northern Health saw a total of 10 deaths through September, four fewer than were recorded in August.

The health authority’s annual death rate per 100,000 people remains the highest provincially at 43.4 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Island Health at 33.7.

Provincially, 133 people died due to unregulated drugs in September, bringing this year’s total to 1,143.

According to the Coroners Service, those ages 30 to 59 account for 71 per cent of the deaths across the province with males making up 76 per cent.