Kamloops loses three more lives due to illicit drugs in July; 192 died in the province

KAMLOOPS — Three more illicit drug deaths were recorded in Kamloops in July.

According to the latest preliminary data by the BC Coroners Service, Kamloops still has the sixth-most illicit drug deaths among B.C. municipalities with 50 – behind Vancouver, Surrey, Greater Victoria, Abbotsford and Kelowna – up from 47 in June.

Kamloops set a yearly record with 78 overdose deaths in 2021. At the seven-month mark of 2022, Kamloops is on pace to surpass that number with 86.

In 2022, 83 lives in the Thompson Cariboo health service delivery area have been lost due to toxic drugs; seven of those took place in July. The Thompson Cariboo has a death rate of 58.3 per 100,000 people, down from 62.3. However, it’s still one of the highest death rates in B.C.