COVID By Any Other Name: Men Under The Age of 45 Are Dying At An Unusually High Rate

More young men in Western Canada died than expected last year — and not just because of COVID-19.https://t.co/aTkJDdO4Cg

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) January 5, 2021

May to Oct., 7,172 Canadians under the age of 45 died — 1,385 more than statisticians predicted for that time. A large majority of these "excess deaths" — 81 per cent — were men. Most in B.C. and Alberta. Fewer than 50 died of COVID-19. What's happening? https://t.co/aTkJDdO4Cg

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) January 5, 2021

The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed that a portion of the excess deaths in that province were due to the sharp rise in deaths related to toxic and illicit drugs, an issue that has held the status of a public health emergency in B.C. since 2016.https://t.co/aTkJDdO4Cg

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) January 5, 2021

But some mystery remains around that question.

Canada’s provincial coroners and vital statistics offices take time to process causes of death, and about 13 per cent of deaths between January and October had no determined cause as of the data release.https://t.co/aTkJDdO4Cg

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) January 5, 2021

Something has been killing young men in Western Canada — something that’s not COVID-19. At least, not directly.

Full story by @alex_mckeen https://t.co/aTkJDdO4Cg

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) January 5, 2021