Kamloops suffers second-deadliest year amid toxic drug crisis
KAMLOOPS — Kamloops was hit hard by the toxic drug crisis once again in 2024, suffering its second-deadliest year on record.
New numbers released by the BC Coroners Service show 90 deaths due to toxic drugs in Kamloops through the end of December. That’s up from 83 at the end of October and is just two short of the 92 deaths Kamloops experienced during its deadliest year in 2022.
Overall, B.C. saw 2,253 suspected unregulated drug deaths in 2024, down from 2,578 in 2023 — a decrease of 13 per cent. It’s the province’s fourth-deadliest year amid the toxic drug crisis.
Interior Health (IH) lost 392 lives in 2024; its third-deadliest year. IH lost a record 436 lives in 2023. By health service delivery area, the coroners service says the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap has lost 144 lives in 2024 for a death rate of 55.0 per 100,000 residents.
