New preliminary data from the BC Coroners service shows a record 13 toxic drug deaths in Kamloops in the month of July.

It is the third time there have been that many deaths in a single month, following April of this year and August of last year.

With an average of eight deaths a month this year, Kamloops is on pace to hit a record 96 toxic drug deaths this year. That would make it the fourth straight record year after 92 such deaths in 2022, 77 in 2021, and 60 in 2020.

Across the province, there were 198 toxic drug deaths in July, with the 13th consecutive month where at least 190 British Columbians lost their lives to the toxic, unregulated drug supply.

And with at least 1,455 deaths attributed to toxic drugs in 2023, the BC Coroners Service say its the largest number ever reported during the first seven months of a calendar year.

“I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating,” Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe said. “We are continuing to experience record numbers of deaths provincewide because of the toxic drug supply.:

“The unregulated illicit market is highly unpredictable and continues to put thousands of lives at risk each month. Despite recommendations for the urgent expansion of a safer drug supply, very few have access to a stable, lower-risk alternative.”

B.C. is on track to hit 2,494 such deaths this year, 110 more than the record of 2,384 set just last year.

Lapointe says unregulated drug toxicity remains the leading cause of death for British Columbians aged 10 to 59, accounting for more than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined.

There have been at least 12,739 lives lost to unregulated drugs since B.C. declared the public health emergency in April 2016.

“In just two days, we’ll recognize International Overdose Awareness Day,” Lapointe added. “This most sombre of occasions is an important opportunity to recognize all our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours who have been lost to unregulated drugs.”

While we honour their memory and grieve alongside their loved ones, we must urge decision-makers to do more to stop these preventable deaths from occurring. The critical risks and losses of life resulting from this public health emergency deserve an urgent response. We must not accept the continued loss of six lives each and every day.”