File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Toxic Drug Crisis

Kamloops saw 28 more deaths in August and September due to toxic drug crisis: BC Coroners Service

Oct 24, 2024 | 9:53 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops suffered a notable and tragic uptick in lives lost due to the toxic drug crisis in August and September.

New figures through September released Thursday (Oct. 24) by the BC Coroners Service show 81 deaths due to toxic drugs in Kamloops as of September 2024 — up from 53 as of July.

With three months remaining in the calendar year, 2024 is already Kamloops’ third deadliest year amid the toxic drug crisis. It trails the all-time high of 92 set in 2022 and is marginally behind the 83 fatalities recorded in 2023.

Overall, B.C. saw 187 suspected unregulated drug deaths in August and 183 in September, pushing the year-to-date total to 1,749. Of those, 82 were in Interior Health — 32 in August and 50 in September.

By health service delivery area, the coroners service says the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap has lost 120 lives in 2024 for a death rate of 61.1 per 100,000 residents.

Question of the Week

Do you think a minority government could be a positive for British Columbia?

Oct 21, 2024

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Oct. 14

Oct 20, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: The mind doesn't always listen

Oct 20, 2024

B.C.’s deadliest record is 2,546 drug fatalities in one year in 2023.

The coroners service’s figures can be viewed here.