Over 1,000 lives lost to toxic drugs in 2023, three in Vernon in May, seven in Kelowna

The number of drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia decreased from the near-record levels in April, to 176 in May.

The monthly total included three fatal cases in Vernon in May, for a 2023 total of 15.

Kelowna had seven toxic drug deaths and 36 this year, while Kamloops had six fatalities for a yearly total of 38.

The update from the BC Coroners Service said 1,018 British Columbians were lost to unregulated drugs between January and May, a 2.9 per cent increase over the number of reported deaths during the same time frame in 2022.

The 176 total deaths in May represent a 19 per cent decrease compared to the fatal cases reported in April (218), and equates to about 5.7 lives lost each day.

“BC Coroners Service findings confirm that this public-health emergency continues to be driven by illicit fentanyl,” Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, said. “Expedited testing in 2023 is positive for fentanyl in almost nine out of every 10 results, nearly double the positivity rate of methamphetamine and cocaine, the next most commonly identified substances. As long as people are reliant on the profit-driven unregulated market to access the substances they need, their lives are at risk.”

Unregulated drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death in B.C. for people aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined. The lives of at least 12,264 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs in the seven years since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016.