Prescription status* of medication relevant to death among illicit drug overdose deaths in British Columbia, 2015–2017
| Prescription status | No. (%) of deaths by substance class and prescription status n = 1789 | Substance class–related deaths, % |
|---|---|---|
| Any opioid relevant to death | 1530 (85.5) | 1530 (100) |
| Only prescribed opioids | 36 (2.0) | 36 (2.4) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed opioids | 120 (6.7) | 120 (7.8) |
| Only nonprescribed opioids | 1374 (76.8) | 1374 (89.8) |
| Stimulants relevant to death | 1263 (70.6) | 1263 (100) |
| Only prescribed stimulants | < 5 (< 0.3) | < 5 (< 0.4) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed stimulants | 10 (0.6) | 10 (0.8) |
| Only nonprescribed stimulants | 1251 (70.0) | 1251 (99.0) |
| Antidepressants relevant to death | 122 (6.8) | 122 (100) |
| Only prescribed antidepressants | 82 (4.6) | 82 (67.2) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed antidepressants | 13 (0.7) | 13 (10.7) |
| Only nonprescribed antidepressants | 27 (1.5) | 27 (22.1) |
| Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs relevant to death | 107 (6.0) | 107 (100) |
| Only prescribed benzodiazepines or Z-drugs | 35 (2.0) | 35 (32.7) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed benzodiazepines | 5 (0.3) | 5 (4.7) |
| Only nonprescribed benzodiazepines or Z-drugs | 67 (3.7) | 67 (62.6) |
| Antipsychotics relevant to death | 46 (2.6) | 46 (100) |
| Only prescribed antipsychotics | 38 (2.2) | 38 (82.6) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed antipsychotics | 0 | 0 |
| Only nonprescribed antipsychotics | 8 (0.4) | 8 (17.4) |
| Gabapentinoids relevant to death | 29 (1.6) | 29 (100) |
| Only prescribed gabapentinoids | 24 (1.3) | 24 (82.8) |
| Prescribed and nonprescribed gabapentinoids | 0 | 0 |
| Only nonprescribed gabapentinoids | 5 (0.3) | 5 (17.2) |
↵* Active prescription within 60 days before overdose death.