Twelve people on 91原创 Island died of suspected illicit drug overdoses in May, the lowest monthly total in six months. Across the province, the monthly death toll was 109 in May, down from 141 in May 2018 and 124 in April 2018.
It鈥檚 a bit of promising news, but certainly not a reason to celebrate. It鈥檚 still too many deaths, especially given that Victoria is on track to match last year鈥檚 total of 91. It鈥檚 too soon to know if the decline is a trend, says Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health鈥檚 chief medical officer.
The main culprit is a toxic drug supply 鈥� fentanyl is blamed in more than 80 per cent of the deaths.
Those not in the throes of addiction might wonder why people keep risking their lives by taking illicit drugs, but it鈥檚 a complicated problem defying easy solutions. The B.C. Coroners Service says more people in B.C. now die of drug overdoses than are killed by homicides, suicides and motor-vehicle crashes combined.
Island Health is hoping supervised consumption sites, prevention efforts and nalaxone kits will reduce the toll, but it will be a long and heartbreaking battle. A dip in statistics is no reason to be complacent.
