September toxic drug deaths released; BC still on pace for deadliest year

In 2022, 110 lives in the Thompson Cariboo health service delivery area have been lost due to toxic drugs; nine of those took place in September. It is also the area’s second deadliest year. The Thompson Cariboo has a death rate of 60.1 per 100,000 people, down from 62.1 in August.

Provincially, 171 lives were lost due to the toxic drug supply in September for a year-to-date total of 1,644.

Officials said no deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.

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