Overdose deaths continue to mount on the North Island, according to newly-published data from the BC Coroners Service.
The latest report on unintentional illicit drug deaths in B.C. indicates that five people died of overdoses in April and May in the northern Vancouver Island health service area.
That brings the total North Island death count to 15 by the end of May, according to data from the BC Coroner published on Thursday.
This includes the area from Comox Valley-north, along with a section of the mainland north of the Sunshine Coast.
| A map from the Ministry of Health shows the North Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area |
Previous data from the BC Coroner stated that 10 people had died in the North Island by the end of March.
Rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest in Vancouver, where there were 127 fatalities by the end of May, or 44.3 per 100,000 people.
The second-highest rate is in the Fraser East area, with 41 deaths, or 31.7 per 100,000 people.
The North Island has the third-highest rate, at 28.6 per 100,000 people.
Information about harm reduction can be found at towardtheheart.com.
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