BC’s 2021 drug overdose numbers were released Wednesday morning, revealing 2,224 British Columbians died as a result of an illicit drug overdose..Despite the incessant cycle of arresting and releasing low to mid-level dealers, the province broke its record yet again with 425 fatal overdoses in November and December alone. This number equates to roughly seven deaths per day, with the highest numbers seen in Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria..“Once again, we are reporting record numbers of deaths in our province due to the toxic illicit drug supply,” said Dr. Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner..“The tremendous loss being felt by families and communities across BC as they mourn loved ones lost far too soon is heartbreaking.”.Overall in 2021, there was an average 6.1 deaths per day as a result of drug overdoses in the entire province, a 26% increase from 2020..The top five drugs involved in fatal overdoses from 2018 to 2021 were:.Fentanyl and analogues: 86.7%Cocaine: 48%Methamphetamine/amphetamine: 39.7%Other opioids: 29.1%Ethyl alcohol: 28%Benzodiazepines: 7.9%Other stimulants: 2.8%.Carfentanil, a particularly potent chemical often used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals such as elephants and bears, was detected in 187 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2021. In 2020 it was found in 66 deaths..A recovered heroin user from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) told the Western Standard when someone dies of an overdose, other users “flock to the source,” as the recent death indicates a particularly strong supply — further incentivizing the poisoning of one’s product..Another incentive for dealers is the mere simplicity of getting synthetic opioids into the country compared to other drugs. Fentanyl, which is roughly 100 times stronger than morphine, can turn over a substantial profit while taking up as much space as a small envelope, thus mitigating the risk as opposed to primarily smuggling large quantities of heroin from places such as Southeast Asia..Even when police successfully infiltrate the upper echelons of black market hierarchies, the overall impact it has on illicit drug distribution seems to be minuscule — the result being nothing more than a violent power vacuum leading to an increase in both overdoses and gang violence..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
