August saw one drug death in Vernon, 169 across B.C.

Sep 28, 2022 | 11:19 AM

People across the province continue to lose family members or friends to drug overdoses according to the latest data provided by the B.C. Coroners Service.

Vernon saw a decline in suspected toxic drug related deaths in August.

After two consecutive months of recording four suspected overdose deaths, Vernon had one drug poisoning death in August.

Preliminary data from the B.C. Coroners Service shows the year to date drug death total for Vernon was 28 as of the end of the most recently reported month.

Vernon’s highest total annual drug deaths figure was 43 in 2021.

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Kelowna also saw three people die due to suspected drug poisoning while Kamloops recorded 12 deaths, bringing their year to date totals to 54 and 62, respectively.

The deaths in Kamloops keeps the community of track to surpass its record high annual death toll of 77 in 2021. Kelowna could also see its high of 75 deaths in 2021 reached or passed this year if trends continue through the next four reporting months.

The local deaths were part of 34 in the Interior and 169 across all of B.C.

To date, there have been 1,468 lives lost to suspected toxic drug poisonings in the province, including 250 from the Interior.

In 2021, there were a total of 2,267 drug deaths recorded throughout the entire year which is so far the most on record.

“The illicit drug market continues to pose immense risks to people across our province,” Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s chief coroner, said in a media release.

“People in communities across B.C. are continuing to lose friends, family members and colleagues to the unprecedented toxicity of the unregulated drug supply. I extend my sincere condolences to all of those grieving the loss of a loved one,” she said.

Data from the B.C. Coroners Service shows 82 per cent of those who have died due to overdoses in B.C. this year were located inside, with 56 per cent of deaths occurring in private residences .

The Coroners Service report noted both the age groups of 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 each made up 24 per cent of deaths due to suspected illicit toxic drugs in August, while people between the ages of 30 and 39 made up 23 per cent of deaths.

Men have also made up 74 per cent of all overdose deaths recorded so far in 2022.

No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites in 2022.

Analysis of post-mortem toxicology results shows there have been no links to prescribed safe supply contributing to any illicit drug deaths in B.C. this year.

by Liam Verster

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