Kamloops loses six lives due to toxic drug crisis in September

Nov 10, 2026 | 11:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — September was a deadly month for Kamloops amid the toxic drug crisis.

New figures released Tuesday (Nov. 10) by the BC Coroners Service show 30 suspected unregulated drug deaths recorded in Kamloops as of the end of September, up from 24 as of the end of August.

Kamloops is on pace to lose 40 lives due to the toxic drug crisis in 2026, which would be its lowest total since 26 were recorded in 2019. The city’s highest number of deaths in a year is 92 set in 2022.

Elsewhere, the coroners service notes the Merritt local health area has one of the highest deaths rates due to unregulated drugs in 2026 at 91.1 per 100,000 people. In total, the Merritt local health area has lost five lives in 2026.

Within the Interior Health region, 29 deaths due to unregulated drug toxicity were recorded in September. The total through the first nine months of 2026 is 204.

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By health service delivery area, the province says the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap has lost 56 lives as of September for a death rate of 29.4 per 100,000 residents.

Across the province, the service reports 133 people died from unregulated toxic drugs in September. The year-to-date total is 1,143 as of the end of September 2026.

B.C.’s deadliest record is 2,591 drug fatalities in one year in 2023.

The Thompson Cariboo Shuswap, Interior Health and the province are all on pace for their lowest numbers of lives lost since 2020.

The coroners service’s figures can be viewed here.

by Aaron Schulze

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Kamloops loses six lives due to toxic drug crisis in September

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