192 people have died due to illicit drugs in July throughout BC

In 2022, 83 lives in the Thompson Cariboo health service delivery area have been lost due to toxic drugs; seven of those took place in July. The Thompson Cariboo has a death rate of 58.3 per 100,000 people, down from 62.3. However, it’s still one of the highest death rates in B.C.

Provincially, 192 lives were lost due to the toxic drug supply in July for a year-to-date total of 1,297. This year is already the fifth highest in terms of deaths due to illicit drugs.

B.C. became the first province in Canada to remove criminal penalties for possession of certain hard drugs for personal use.