The latest figures show five more people died in Kamloops last month of illicit toxic drugs.

While this is down from the seven who died in May, Kamloops is still on-pace to surpass last year’s record total of 93 deaths.

The BC Coroners Service says fentanyl, and/or a fentanyl analogue, was present in more than 90 per cent of those tested in June, while nearly three-quarters of tests indicated the presence of a stimulant.

Almost all unregulated drug deaths are the result of mixed drug toxicity.

“British Columbia is continuing to lose community members at record rates as a result of the toxicity of the unregulated drug market ,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.

“Illicit fentanyl continues to drive the crisis, which is causing deaths in large and small municipalities, towns and cities across the province. This health emergency is not confined to one neighbourhood or one demographic. Anyone accessing an illicit substance is at risk of serious harm or death.”

So far over 1,200 people across the province have died this year due to the toxic drug supply.

Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in British Columbia for persons aged 10 to 59, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents and natural disease combined, according to the BC Coroner’s Service.

The lives of at least 12,509 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016.

The cities of Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria are seeing the largest amount of drug deaths.