Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

In the first seven months of 2021 – to the end of July – 194 Interior Health region residents are suspected to have overdosed and died while using toxic illicit drugs.

In comparison, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, there were 227 Interior Health residents who died from virus.

The 194 deaths from overdoses in Interior Health translates to 39.6 per 100,000 population this year, just under the B.C. average of 39.7 per 100,000.

The overdose rates are worst in the Vancouver Coastal health region at 47.2 per 100,000.

This has been the deadliest first seven months of any year in B.C. with a total of 1,204 overdose deaths.

READ MORE: July ties dubious record for drug deaths in B.C., as overdose crisis continues

That includes 35 in the Central Okanagan, 35 in Kamloops and 18 in Vernon. Those are the only Thompson and Okanagan cities that are listed in the latest data posted by the B.C. Coroners Service.

That’s a rate of 51.8 deaths per 100,000 in Kamloops, 39.1 in Vernon and 36.9 in the Central Okanagan.

The data also lists the number of deaths and rates per 100,000 for Health Service Delivery Areas in B.C. that shows Merritt to have the highest rate in the province at 133.4 deaths per 100,000. But that data is only to the end of April, by which time there were six deaths.

Enderby shows the third worst ratio in B.C. at 109.5 deaths per 100,000 but there were only three deaths there by the end of April.

READ MORE: July ties dubious record for drug deaths in B.C., as overdose crisis continues

"A lot of work is happening on the ground to make the large, systemic changes necessary to truly turn the tide on this crisis,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson said in a news release. "The big changes we're working on will save many lives in the longer-term. This includes more and varied services that address the root causes of addiction, decriminalization to stop the stigma against people who use drugs and a prescribed safer supply to separate people from poisoned street drugs.”

But changes will take time.

"So, while toxic drugs are circulating, we are asking people to look out for one another and help keep our friends and family members who use drugs alive,” Malcolmson said. “Knowing how to access an overdose prevention or safe consumption site and carrying naloxone can save someone's life today, and we are continuing to add more overdose prevention services.”

READ MORE: Kamloops mayor pleads with drug users not to use alone as overdose death toll climbs in B.C.

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