2021 overdose numbers
- 2021: 35,525 (up 31% over last year)
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2020: 27,067 (up 12% over the previous year)
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2019: 24,166
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2018: 23,662
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2017: 23,441
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2016: 19,275
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2015: 12,263
Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health have the highest number of overdose calls, as these two health authorities serve about 50% of B.C.’s population.
Every health authority had an increase in overdose calls in 2021; Northern Health had the smallest increase at 16%, well below the provincial increase of 31%.
Here is the breakdown of overdose calls in each health authority:
- Vancouver Coastal: 11,204 (+24%)
- Fraser Health: 10,573 (+45%)
- Island Health: 5,917 (+32%)
- Interior Health: 5, 417 (+29%)
- Northern Health: 2,414 (+16%)
BCEHS paramedics responded to an average of
97 overdose calls per day in B.C. during 2021.
BCEHS receives the most calls for overdoses from our largest metro centres: Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria. Here are the top five communities for overdose, with the precentage increase over 2020:
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Vancouver: 9,993 (+23%)
- Surrey: 3,674 (+49%)
- Victoria: 1,952 (+24%)
- Kelowna: 1,588 (+36%)
- Abbotsford: 1,368 (+46%)