The number of overdose deaths continues to rise across the province and in Kamloops, according to the B.C. Coroners Services updated statistics.
From January to May 2016, there have been 308 accidental overdose deaths in the province – an increase of 75 per cent from the same time last year.
In Kamloops, there has been a total of 18 drug overdose deaths in 2016. This is an increase of four deaths since the initial statistics were released in May, which reported from January to April.
“Four in a month is a lot,” said Regan Wilson, New Life Mission outreach centre manager. “We’ve seen overdoses here and there, but in the last while, you’re just expecting one every month.”
The number of overdose deaths in Kamloops now more than doubles the seven deaths recorded in all of 2015.
According to the statistics, fentanyl has been detected in 56 per cent of overdose deaths in the province so far this year.
“Unfortunately, for the people with addiction, it’s just a Russian roulette game and they’ve been playing it for a long time,” Wilson said. “One of the sad things about Fentanyl is that they like that stuff. Sometimes they are seeking it, but it’s more potent than they realize.
“It really affects everybody when there is an overdose. Somehow or another, they have some connection with those people so it affects them for sure.”
Wilson said the New Life outreach centre has four naloxone kits in the building to administer if someone were to overdose on the property. Clients are also encouraged to keep a kit with them.
According to the data, Kamloops is tied with Kelowna for the most illicit drug overdose deaths in the province, only trailing Vancouver, 53, Surrey, 37, and Victoria, 24.
