New preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service shows there were nine illicit drug toxicity deaths in Kamloops in March 2022.

That brings the total number of toxic drug-related deaths to 25 in Kamloops this year, with Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria and Abbotsford the only cities in British Columbia which recorded more deaths.

Across the province, there were 165 deaths reported in last month.

That was 44 fewer than the 209 deaths reported back in January, but still showed an average of 5.3 deaths per day.

The B.C. Coroners Service says March marked the 18th consecutive month where more than 150 British Columbians died from toxic drugs.

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says the decrease is encouraging, but she notes there is still an enormous risk to drug users.

“It is encouraging to see a decrease in the number of lives lost in February and March relative to previous months, but we know the illicit drug market continues to present enormous risks to our community members.”

The coroner says 94 per cent of tested samples contained fentanyl, and about a third contained benzodiazapines.

Lapointe says along with the fatal outcomes that toxic drugs have on users, survivors of drug-toxicity emergency events often experience serious long-term health challenges.

“I am hopeful that implementation of the Death Review Panel’s recommendation to significantly and rapidly expand access to safer supply across the province will begin to diminish the terrible harms people in B.C. are currently experiencing.”