Merritt saw 11 overdose deaths in 2022; B.C. rate slowed slightly

MERRITT — The illicit drug overdose report for 2022 was released.

According to the latest preliminary data by the BC Coroners Service, 11 people died in the City of Merritt last year due to the toxic drug supply. It was the third highest among illicit drug toxicity death rates (per 100,000 person) – behind Vancouver Centre North and Terrace.

The Merritt local health area (LHA) recorded a rate of 92.6 per 100,000 people in 2022. Elsewhere, the Kamloops (LHA) suffered 96 overdose deaths in 2022 for a record rate of 73.8 per 100,000 people.

Provincially, 2,272 lives were lost in 2022 due to the toxic drug supply, second to the 2,306 in 2021.

In 2022, 149 lives in the Thompson Cariboo health service delivery area were been lost due to toxic drugs; its second most behind 150 in 2021. It also had a death rate of 60.5 per 100,000 people, down from 61.7 in 2021.

Interior Health suffered a record 388 deaths in 2022 for a record rate of 46 per 100,000 people.

“The reality is that these deaths are preventable,” said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe. “Toxicology data confirms that the drug supply in British Columbia is increasingly volatile and life-threatening. The Standing Committee on Health and two BC Coroners Service death review panels are in agreement that we must rapidly increase access to a safer supply of substances, while at the same time, building out a robust system of evidence-based care.”

As of Tuesday (Jan. 31), users will not be arrested or have their drugs seized by police in what is a three-year pilot project by the B.C. government. The policy shift came after Health Canada allowed an exemption from federal drug laws so people 18 and over could carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.