BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada – 4 August 2017: Data on illicit drug overdose deaths in British Columbia in Canada, presented in a report by the Office of the Chief Coroner at the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, shows that deaths relating to the use of fentanyl account for the overall increase in illicit drug overdose deaths since 2012. Further analysis have yet to confirm these findings. Moreover, according to preliminary data, fentanyl (alone or in combination with other drugs) was detected in 67 per cent of drug overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 and in 78 per cent of drug overdose deaths in January to May 2017.

Figure 1. Illicit drug overdose deaths in Canada, including and excluding fentanyl, 2007-2016

For more information, please see:

Report by the Office of the Chief Coroner at the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General on “Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC: January 1, 2007 – June 30, 2017” – http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/death-investigation/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf

Global SMART Update Volume 17 “Fentanyl and its analogues - 50 years on” – https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/Global_SMART_Update_17_web.pdf