(Image credit: CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

Toxic Drugs

Kamloops loses five lives due to illicit drugs in June; B.C. on pace for another deadly record

Jul 19, 2023 | 8:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops lost five more lives in June due to the toxic drug supply.

New figures released Wednesday (July 19) by the BC Coroners Service show 43 deaths due to illicit drugs in Kamloops at the halfway mark of 2023, up from 38 at the end of May.

Overall, B.C. saw 184 deaths in June due to illicit drugs, pushing the year-to-date total to 1,228. At the halfway mark of 2023, B.C. is on pace to surpass its deadly record of 2,383 deaths in one year in 2022.

“Illicit fentanyl continues to drive the crisis, which is causing deaths in large and small municipalities, towns and cities across the province,” Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s chief coroner says. “This health emergency is not confined to one neighbourhood or one demographic. Anyone accessing an illicit substance is at risk of serious harm or death.”

The coroners service states fentanyl and/or a fentanyl analogue was present in more than 90 per cent of expedited toxicological testing in June, while nearly three-quarters of tests indicated the presence of a stimulant. Nearly all unregulated drug deaths are the result of mixed drug toxicity.

Question of the Week

If the time change was eliminated in B.C., which time would you prefer?

10h ago

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Oct. 28

15h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sometimes you have to abandon your principles and yield to your natural instinct

Nov 03, 2024

Within the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap health service delivery area, 72 deaths have been reported over the first six months of 2023 for a rate of 57.7 per 100,000 people. Interior Health recorded 200 deaths during that time.

The coroners service’s figures can be viewed here.