Photo: The Canadian Press
Chief Coroner Lisa LaPoint
Another 11 people in Okanagan and 14 in Thompson-Caribou were killed by deliveries of toxic drugs to BC in March.
New data from the British Columbia Coroner’s Office on Wednesday revealed 165 deaths across British Columbia, amounting to 5.3 deaths a day.
165 deaths are less than the 209 deaths reported in January 2022, but health officials warn the reduction may not continue. Previous similar declines in mortality have been followed by dramatic returns in high deaths.
Within Thompson-Okanagan, the city of Kamloops is in the worst condition. Twenty-five people have died from an overdose in the capital of the 2022 tournament, behind only Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria and Abbotsford. It is on track to register 100 deaths this year, above last year’s 78, a previous all-time record.
Seventeen people have died in Kelowna, while 10 have died in the Penticton this year. The Penticton is also on track to lose more people this year than it did in 2021, when the city recorded 25 deaths, the worst ever. Kelowna recorded 73 deaths in 2021.
No data is available for Vernon, as the investigator provided details of only the 15 most affected municipalities.
The supply of illicit drugs in BC remains highly toxic. Fentanyl or its analogues were found in 79% of all deaths from illicit toxicity in 2022. Post-mortem toxicology results show that cases of extreme concentrations of fentanyl have increased.
Benzodiazepines were detected in 32% of the samples. These tranquilizers, which are commonly used to treat anxiety, are especially dangerous when mixed with opioids because they do not respond to naloxone, the drug used to overcome the overdose.
“Toxic illicit drugs take lives and have devastating effects on people in all walks of life,” said Coroner General Lisa Lapoint.
“Along with the apparent tragedy of fatalities, drug toxicity emergency survivors often face serious long-term health challenges. I hope that the implementation of the Death Review Panel’s recommendation to significantly and rapidly expand access to safer supplies across the province will begin to reduce the terrible damage that people in British Columbia are currently experiencing. “
The BC Death Review Panel includes the investigation of more than 6,000 overdose deaths. It says the government urgently needs to develop a policy to spread a safer supply of medicines and offer better health support with a plan that will take action within 30, 60 and 90 days.
On Tuesday, the BC Liberal Party called on the NDP to adhere to the recommendations.
“I continue to call on the government to immediately accept all twenty-three of the panel’s recommendations and to ensure that a coherent province-wide strategy is adopted in British Columbia, so that when someone seeks help, they can immediately get the services they need. “Said Trevor Halford, a critic of mental health and addictions.
“Unfortunately, there is still a lot of rhetoric, but little action and urgency on the part of John Horgan and the NDP government, as they ignore the life-saving goals and deadlines set out in this report.
Sheila Malcolmson, the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, issued a statement without mentioning security of supply or recommendations to the death committee.
“Every lost life is a tragedy. Our government remains committed to doing what is necessary to reverse this crisis. Almost every week, new tools are added to support mental health and the use of substances to save lives, but the terribly toxic street drug supply continues to take lives.
“We know there is still work to be done and we will not stop until we reverse this crisis,” she said.
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