In April, B.C. saw 136 overdose deaths, bringing the yearly total to 488 lives lost.

That’s more than half of those who died in 2016, and more than four people dying per day across the province.

The top three townships where fatal illicit drug overdoses occurred were Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria.

The federal government approved three new safe consumption sites last week in the Lower Mainland. There continues to be no deaths at sites of this kind or overdose prevention sites, according to a report from the Coroners Service.

The Okanagan has seen 50 deaths so far this year – a 50 per cent increase from the same time last year.

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Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health saw the highest number of monthly overdose deaths in April 2017 compared to this year and last year – 44 and 54 deaths, respectively.