There were about 4.9 B.C. deaths per day in June from illicit toxic drugs, according to a data released by the B.C. Coroners Service.

The 146 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths that month was 17 percent lower than the 175 such deaths recorded in June of 2021.

The June 2022 fatality toll marked a 26 percent decrease from the 197 illicit drug toxicity deaths in May of 2022.

There were 1,095 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in B.C. in the first six months of this year.

According to the data, 73 percent of those who've died in 2022 have been between 30 and 59 years of age, with 78 percent of them male.

Last year, B.C. posted its highest-ever annual number of deaths due to illicit drug toxicity, with 2,264 fatalities.