Like the rest of the province, toxic drugs are killing people at an unprecedented rate in the Okanagan. Twenty-six people died of drug overdoses in the Okanagan Health Services Region in July, the region’s deadliest month. The deadliest month comes amid the worst year ever for the crisis, with the region’s fatal overdose rate at 47 per 100,000 this year. Ten years ago, the rate was 4.6 per 100,000. The Okanagan Health Services Region includes the entire valley and the Similkameen. Across BC, 192 people died in July, representing a 31 percent increase in the number of deaths recorded in June 2022, which equates to about 6.2 deaths per day. Nearly 1,300 toxic drug deaths have been reported to BC’s coroner’s office between January and July, a record number for the first seven months of a calendar year. “Families and communities across the province continue to suffer the sudden and tragic deaths of loved ones due to toxic drugs,” Lapointe said. “Whether they are chronically dependent on substances or only use occasionally, everyone who has access to the illicit drug market is vulnerable to serious harm. Subject matter experts at the recent death review panel urgently recommended a significant expansion of safer provision in communities across the province in order to to reduce the devastation caused by this public health crisis.” Seven people died in July in the Thompson-Cariboo Health Services District. Broken down by municipality, 51 people were killed by toxic drugs in Kelowna this year, 50 in Kamloops and 27 in Vernon. No data available for Penticton.
