July saw the second-highest total of overdose deaths ever in B.C.; three more deaths in Kamloops

VICTORIA — The latest statistics detailing overdose deaths in B.C. paint a picture of an opioid crisis that is going in the wrong direction.

The B.C. Coroners Service says there were 184 deaths due to suspected illicit drug overdoses in July — tied for the second-highest monthly total ever. Only June, 2020 saw more overdose deaths with 186. January, 2021 also saw 184 such deaths.

The July rate equates to 5.9 overdose deaths every day in B.C.

In Kamloops, there were three drug overdose deaths in July, pushing the 2021 total to 35 in the city. That ties Kamloops for sixth-most in the province, and keeps the city roughly on its 2020 pace, when it ended the year with 60 overdose deaths.