19 overdose deaths in Kelowna so far this year, most fentanyl related

In one month, there were 63 overdose deaths in the province including at least one in Kelowna.

The BC Coroners Service has released updated statistics regarding the number of illicit drug-related deaths so far in 2016. Last month, the report indicated there were 308 accidental overdose deaths in the province from January to May. The new list includes the month of June and that number has shot up to 371 provincewide.

Kelowna has had 19 illicit drug overdoses since the beginning of the year, while Vancouver has had 69, Surrey 44, Victoria 29 and Kamloops 22. According to the coroner, there has been an increase in overdose deaths of 74.2 per cent compared to this same time last year.

The proportion of deaths in which fentanyl was detected has increased substantially with approximately 60 per cent of all deaths involving the drug. That is up from 31 per cent in 2015.

The statistics also show that fentanyl-detected deaths are now occurring regularly throughout the province, rather than being concentrated in the Lower Mainland as in previous years. For both Vancouver Island and the southern Interior, the number of deaths in which fentanyl was detected in five months in 2016 has exceeded the number for all 12 months of 2015.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe stresses the critical importance of calling 911 immediately if someone appears to be overdosing as rapid intervention, including the use of naloxone, (either by professionals or the use of take-home naloxone) can often prevent an overdose from becoming fatal.