Almost twice as many Quesnel residents lost their lives to toxic drugs last year compared to 2022.
The BC Coroners Service says through November of this year, so not including December yet, there were 13 suspected overdoses in 2023 which was up from just 7 in all of 2022.
There were also 13 drug-related deaths in the Cariboo/Chilcotin, which includes Williams Lake, through the first 11 months of 2023.
That compares to 19 in all of of 2023.
And there were 2 deaths from toxic, unregulated drugs in 100 Mile House through November of this year, compared to 3 in all of 20-22.
When it comes to the Health Service Delivery Areas, the Northern Interior, which includes Quesnel, has the 2nd highest death rate out of 16 at 80.9 deaths per 100,000.
The Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap, which includes Williams Lake and 100 Mile, is 7th at 55.6 deaths per 100,000.
Drug Deaths 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*
100 Mile House 0 1 3 2 2 6 3 2
Cariboo/Chilcotin 4 7 9 3 10 11 19 13
Quesnel 1 7 5 6 18 9 7 13
*2023 is through November*
