Kamloops loses four more lives due to toxic drugs in September; still on pace for deadliest year

KAMLOOPS — Four lives in Kamloops were lost in September due to illicit drugs.

According to the latest preliminary data by the BC Coroners Service, Kamloops has 66 year-to-date total deaths in 2022 due to the toxic drug supply. It’s the fifth highest among B.C. municipalities – behind Vancouver, Surrey, Greater Victoria and Abbotsford.

Kamloops set a yearly record with 77 overdose deaths in 2021. At the nine-month mark of 2022, Kamloops is in its second deadliest year, on pace to surpass the deadliest year with 88.

In 2022, 110 lives in the Thompson Cariboo health service delivery area have been lost due to toxic drugs; nine of those took place in September. It is also the area’s second deadliest year. The Thompson Cariboo has a death rate of 60.1 per 100,000 people, down from 62.1 in August.