Toxic drugs are now the leading cause of death for people between 19 and 39 in B.C

Tuesday, Aug. 31 is international Overdose Awareness Day and in B.C., it is a day to remember the lives lost due to drug overdoses.

In the first half of 2021, at least 1,011 people died from suspected illicit drug toxicity in the province, according to data released by the BC Coroners Service.

June was the ninth consecutive month in B.C. where more than 150 people died as a result of the toxic drug supply.

The government says the illicit drug supply in B.C. is becoming increasingly toxic with extreme fentanyl concentrations and carfentanil showing up more frequently in toxicology testing.

Post-mortem testing shows that fentanyl continues to be the substance involved in most drug-toxicity deaths – 85 per cent in the first six months of 2021, according to numbers provided by the government.

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