There were two overdose deaths in Prince George in January

Two people died of an overdose in Prince George in January, according to the latest statistics from the B.C. Coroners Service.

Fentanyl was detected in both those deaths, states the report.

Five fentanyl-related were also reported in the Northern Health Authority.

Across the province, there were 90 suspected drug overdose deaths in January. That’s a 31 per cent decrease when compared to January 2018 (130) and a 22 per cent decrease over the number of deaths in December 2018 (116).

Meanwhile, there were 1,310 illicit drug overdose deaths with fentanyl detected in 2018, a seven per cent increase over 2017’s numbers (1,223).

Stats show carfentanil was found in 13 of the 90 overdose deaths in January 2019. By comparison, carfentanil was detected in 35 overdose deaths in 2018 and in 71 deaths between June 2017 (when the service began testing for the drug), and December 2017.

In a news release, the BC Coroners Service says the number of illicit drug overdose deaths this past January equates to 2.9 deaths per day.

There were more people lost to illicit drug overdoses in Prince George in 2018 than in any year prior.

In total, 46 people died locally from overdose, an increase from 2017 when 24 people died and in 2016, 18 people died.

- with files from Tereza Verenca, Kamloops Matters