New preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service shows there were a record 11 illicit drug toxicity deaths in Kamloops in Jan. 2022.

Only Vancouver (48) and Surrey (22) recorded more such deaths in the first month of 2022, as data shows another 207 British Columbians lost their lives in January.

It was the fourth consecutive month with 200 or more lives lost to the toxic, illicit drug supply in the province. At 207 deaths, Jan. 2022 is the third worst month on record with an average of 6.7 deaths a day, behind only Dec. 2021 (219) and Nov. 2021 (211).

“As we near the six-year anniversary of the declaration of B.C.’s public health emergency into substance-related harms, it is clearer than ever that traditional approaches to substance use are hurting people and costing lives,” chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said.

The coroners say between Nov. 2021 and Jan. 2022, approximately 23 per cent of tests returned extreme levels of fentanyl (concentrations exceeding 50 micrograms per litre), compared to 13 per cent of results between Apr. 2020 and Oct. 2021.

“We know that illicit substances in our province are toxic and that those dependent on them are vulnerable to serious harms and death,” Lapointe added. “Ensuring access to safer supply, establishing a substance use system of care, and turning the focus away from punishing and stigmatizing are critical steps to resolving this public health emergency.”

Two days ago, a report by a panel of experts pulled together by the Coroners Service called for a safer drug supply to reduce the number of overdose deaths.

“I am hopeful that the recent recommendations made by the Coroners Service Drug Toxicity Death Review Panel will support the meaningful change underway in our province and an end to this tragic crisis,” Lapointe added.

More to come