The deaths keep piling up. The BC Coroners Service reports that 1,095 people died from toxic, illegal drugs in the first six months of 2022. This includes 146 lives lost in June, an increase of 17 per cent on June 2021, but a drop of 26 per cent since May this year. Year-to-date Home Health has seen 178 deaths from illicit drug poisonings through June 30, which equates to 43 people per 100,000 population. Forty-seven of those people died in Kamloops, 43 in Kelowna and 23 in Vernon. The BC coroner’s office says that by Local Health Area (LHA), so far in 2022, the highest rates per 100,000 residents were in Lillooet, Mission, Terrace, Cariboo/Chilcotin and Powell River. The vast majority of deaths, 84 percent, occurred in private homes or other residences. Just 15 percent occurred outside on sidewalks, streets, parks, or vehicles. A notable trend is that the percentage of victims over the age of 50 continues to rise, now accounting for 37 percent of deaths. Health and Mental Addictions Minister Sheila Malcomson issued a statement in response to the report. “Over the past six months, we’ve deepened investments across the province. We’re expanding treatment and recovery options with more substance use beds in the Okanagan, Nanaimo, Maple Ridge and Prince George, as well as medical addiction services in Vernon, Kamloops and Abbotsford We also lead the country in decriminalization and safer prescription supplies. “Since January, we have opened complex care homes in three locations for people with overlapping complex mental health and substance use challenges and who are at risk of homelessness, and we have announced future locations in communities across B.C. We have also opened new Foundry centers to support youth with mental health and substance use challenges in Comox and Langley and have announced future locations in three more BC communities,” he notes. “We continue to tackle this emergency from every angle, making the big, systemic changes necessary to turn the tide on this crisis. While progress is being made in building a system of care, we know we need to do more. We don’t we will stop working until all British Columbians have access to the services they need and deserve,” adds Malcolmson. Lisa Lapointe, the BC coroner, will have more to say about the report at a press conference this morning.
