B-C’s chief coroner says it’s heartbreaking to see the number of overdose deaths continue to climb despite numerous efforts to respond to the crisis. Figures released today by the coroner’s service show 1,013 people died of overdoses from January through August — surpassing last year’s record of 982 deaths with four months still left in the year. About 90 per cent of this year’s deaths occurred in a private home or other indoor location, but there were no deaths at supervised consumption or drug-overdose prevention sites. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says no illicit substance in B-C can be considered safe and anyone taking drugs needs to have someone with them who can help if they overdose.