FILE PHOTO - A Naloxone kit is pictured in this undated file photo.

(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)

Eleven people in Kamloops died as a result of a poisoned illicit drug supply in January, making it the third most affected city in the province as the health crisis continues.

At least 207 British Columbians died due to illicit drugs in January 2022, according to data released today, March 11, by the B.C. Coroners Service.

READ MORE: Rally to bring attention to overdose crisis making noise in Kamloops

January is the fourth consecutive month in which more than 200 lives were lost to the illicit drug supply in B.C., the coroners service said. The 207 deaths was the third-highest number recorded in a calendar month, an average of about 6.7 deaths per day.

While illicit drug toxicity death rates remain high throughout the province, there have been notable increases in smaller and medium-sized communities. The 11 recorded deaths in Kamloops in January made it the third most affected city in B.C. behind only Vancouver and Surrey, according to the coroner's report.

Eight people died from overdose in Kelowna, and a total of 37 overdose deaths were reported in the Interior Health Authority in 2022. Last month, the Okanagan reported 16 overdose deaths and 15 in the Thompson-Cariboo region.

Northern Health has the highest rate of any health authority in the province with 19 overdose deaths, equating to a death rate of 74.5 per 100,000 residents in January.

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Post-mortem toxicology results underscore the increased volatility and toxicity of the illicit drug supply. Between November 2021 and January 2022, approximately 23% of tests returned extreme levels of fentanyl (concentrations exceeding 50 micrograms per litre), compared to 13% of results between April 2020 and October 2021. Both Northern Health (29%) and Vancouver Coastal Health (27%) had averages that exceeded the average for the province, according to the report.

"We know that illicit substances in our province are toxic and that those dependent on them are vulnerable to serious harms and death," said B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe, in the news release. "Ensuring access to safer supply, establishing a substance use system of care, and turning the focus away from punishing and stigmatizing are critical steps to resolving this public health emergency."

A majority of the overdose deaths were men, (82%) between the ages of 30 to 59 (72%).

READ MORE: B.C. coroner says January was third-deadliest month for toxic illicit drug deaths

The highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (70 and 57 deaths), making up 61% of all such deaths during this period in January 2022.

In January, 85% of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred inside (55% in private residences and 30% in other residences), while 14% occurred outside in vehicles, on sidewalks, streets, parks, etc.

No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites and there is no indication that prescribed safe supply is contributing to illicit drug deaths, according to the report.

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