By The Canadian Press / James Peters

New numbers show 32 overdose deaths in Kamloops so far this year

Dec 19, 2016 | 8:59 AM

VICTORIA — The number of overdose deaths related to illicit drugs in British Columbia leapt to 755 by the end of November, a more than 70 per cent jump over the number of fatalities recorded during the same time period last year.

The BC Coroners Service says the powerful opioid fentanyl remains present in a high number of the fatalities and was detected in 374 of the cases, or about 60 per cent of the deaths.

In Kamloops, the overdose fatality total has reached 32 for the year, meaning one person was added to that total in November.

The 32 deaths is more than 4.5 times last year’s total of seven.

17 of those deaths are confirmed to have involved fentanyl.

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Health officials issued a new warning last week after 11 people across the province died from illicit drug overdoses on Thursday.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson called for a long-term plan for detox and treatment programs to slow the death toll.

He said the provincial government needs to step in because reviving people temporarily only to send them back out on the street to continue with their addiction isn’t working.

The B.C. government declared a public-health emergency earlier this year and has taken several steps to fight the overdose crisis, including setting up overdose-prevention sites in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey and Prince George where people can inject illicit drugs while being monitored.