By James Peters

Coroners Service says Kamloops has already doubled ’15 overdose death total

May 13, 2016 | 3:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — New numbers released by the BC Coroners Service show Kamloops has already seen twice as many illicit drug overdose deaths than it did all of last year.

The service says 14 people have died of drug overdoses in Kamloops between January and April of this year.

The fatality total was seven in 2015.

Province-wide, there have been 256 overdose deaths to the end of April this year, putting the province on pace for more than 750 by year’s end.

Last year, the total was 480.

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The stats also show the proportion of overdose deaths in which fentanyl was involved is showing an alarming increase.

49 per cent of this year’s deaths involved fentanyl.

The number was just 32 per cent last year, and only 5 per cent in 2012.