The number of illicit drug overdose deaths in which fentanyl was detected has been steadily increasing over the past few years, but the majority of deaths are still being caused by other drugs — including cocktails of different drugs taken together — says the B.C. Coroners Service.

According to new statistics from the agency, preliminary data shows that the proportion of illicit drug overdose deaths in which fentanyl was detected was approximately 31 per cent in 2015 — up from 25 per cent the previous year and only five per cent in 2012.

“Fentanyl certainly is a problem, it’s just not the only problem,” said B.C. Coroners Service spokeswoman Barb McLintock, adding that although the proportion of drug overdoses that involve fentanyl is increasing, “it is still less than one in two.”

“So the last thing we want is for people who use illicit drugs to think, ‘Well if I can just avoid the dreaded fentanyl everything else is fine.'”

“No, it isn’t. Your chances are still greater of dying without fentanyl from a drug overdose than it is dying with fentanyl.”

McLintock said the B.C. Coroners Service doesn’t know how responsible fentanyl was in non-fatal overdoses, as the service does not have jurisdiction over that.

Source: CBC