The BC Coroners Service says at least 176 people in British Columbia died because of the illicit drug supply in April, as the average number of deaths nears six per day.

The number of lives lost was a record for any month of April in the province. It’s an increase of 43 per cent over the same month last year, and marks the 14th straight month during which more than 100 people have died due to illicit drugs.

It means at least 680 people have died so