There were 16 more toxic drug deaths in Kamloops in the months of November and December last year, according to new preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service.

With a total of 90, it makes 2022 the third straight deadliest year on record, up from the previous record of 77 set in 2021, and 60 the year before.

Provincially, there were 2,272 lives were lost in 2022 due to the toxic drug supply, behind the revised total of 2,306 in 2021. Kamloops had the fourth highest toxic drug death rate among B.C. municipalities – behind Vancouver (562), Surrey (232), and Greater Victoria (157) – and just ahead of Abbotsford (88) and Kelowna (87).

Across the Kamloops Local Health Area (LHA), there were 96 such deaths in 2022, giving the area which includes Kamloops, Logan Lake, Sun Peaks, Chase, Barriere, and the surrounding areas a record rate of 73.8 per 100,000 people.

That was the ninth-highest rate for LHAs, while the Merritt LHA had the third-highest rate at 92.6 per 100,000 people after 11 deaths in 2022.

“The reality is that these deaths are preventable,” B.C.’s Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe, said. “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.”

These numbers come as B.C.’s three-year plan to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use came into effect Tuesday.

Under the exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act., people who possesses up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA for personal use will no longer be arrested, charged or have their drugs seized.