The Kootenays have recorded 23 deaths from toxic drugs in the first six months of 2024.
14 deaths were reported in the Kootenay Boundary and nine people were killed by toxic drugs in the East Kootenay.
This comes as the BC Coroners Service published the latest report on the province’s drug deaths, including May and June.
In the East Kootenay, four deaths were recorded in May and one was reported in June.
Meanwhile, in the Kootenay Boundary, three people were killed by toxic drugs in May and two died in June.
Provincially, 181 and 185 suspected unregulated drug deaths were reported to the Coroners Service in May and June respectively.
At least 1,158 people have been killed by toxic drugs across the province in the first half of 2024.
“People are continuing to lose their loved ones in communities across B.C. at a tragic rate,” said John McNamee, acting chief coroner.
“Even as the figures reflect a 9% decrease in the number of deaths reported to the coroners service during the first six months of this year from 2023, the number of lives lost is still significant.”
The BC Coroners Service said fentanyl continues to be a driving force of drug poisoning deaths, as it has been detected in 82 per cent of toxicology tests this year.
“Unregulated drug toxicity remains the leading cause of death in British Columbia for those age 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined,” said the Coroners Service.
“Since the public-health emergency was declared in April 2016, more than 14,948 people have lost their lives to unregulated toxic drugs.”
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