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By Liam Verster
Toxic Drug Crisis

No Vernon fatal overdoses in February, 115 across B.C.

Apr 16, 2026 | 6:00 AM

Vernon had a unique month with no illicit drug deaths recorded over the course of all of February.

That’s according to the B.C. Coroners Service, which said preliminary findings did not show any deaths in the North Okanagan city after seeing three such fatalities in January.

The Coroners Service did record four fatal overdoses in Kelowna this February, but that was down significantly from the 11 recorded there in January.

Those deaths were part of 115 recorded across the province in February, representing roughly 4.1 deaths per day through the month.

A preliminary total of 265 people died due to toxic drugs in the first two months of the year, with the Coroners Service noting 69 per cent of those people were between the ages of 30 and 59, and 78 per cent were male.

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It also noted 81 per cent of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside, with 53 per cent of those in private residences.

Fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more potent than fentanyl, had been found in 68 per cent of the fatal overdoses this year. Cocaine, fentanyl or methamphetamine was found in over 50 per cent of all cases.

by Liam Verster
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