(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

The Interior has the second highest rate of overdose deaths in the province, according to the latest data from B.C. Coroners Service.

An increasingly toxic illicit drug supply has claimed 201 lives in October and 1,782 lives in the first 10 months of 2021, according to the latest preliminary data released by the B.C. Coroners Service.

A majority of those deaths were men, with 79% of those deaths reported being male and 71% of those dying aged 30 to 59.

October is the first month in which 200 lives were lost to illicit drugs in B.C. The 1,782 lives lost between January and October are the highest number of deaths due to overdose ever recorded in the province in a calendar year.

READ MORE: 'Grief and frustration' as B.C. marks a new record death toll in overdose crisis

More than 8,300 people have died as a result of drug toxicity since the public health emergency into substance-related harms was declared in April 2016, according to the press release.

While the largest numbers of deaths continue to be recorded in urban centres such as Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria, the rates of death per 100,000 residents are at record levels in every health authority, including Vancouver Coastal (47.6), Interior (45.0), and Northern (44.8). The overall rate of death in the province stands at 41.2 per 100,000 residents, more than double the rate recorded in 2016 (20.4), according to the Coroners Service.

By health service delivery area, in 2021, the highest rates of death were in Vancouver, Thompson Cariboo, Northwest, North Vancouver Island and Fraser East.

This year, 60 deaths were reported in Kelowna, 60 were recorded in Kamloops and 33 were reported in Vernon. No numbers were available for Penticton. In the Interior Health Authority overall, 308 deaths were recorded.

When analyzed by local health area, the highest rates of death were in Upper Skeena, Lillooet, Merritt, North Thompson, and Enderby in 2021.

“Today is a heart-rending milestone for our province,” said Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s chief coroner, in the press release.

“The deaths of more than 200 of our community members in one month due to toxic drugs is a devastating loss. In the sixth year of this public health emergency, we are experiencing a record loss of life and I know this news will resonate with tremendous sadness amongst the thousands of families who have lost a loved one to this crisis. My thoughts continue to be with every family and community that is grieving the loss of a loved one.”

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