Kamloops has reported two deaths from unregulated drugs in the first month of 2026, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service, underscoring the ongoing public health emergency in British Columbia that has now lasted nearly a decade.
The city recorded 54 toxic drug deaths in 2025, a decline from the 91 deaths reported in 2024 and the second-deadliest year on record behind 2022, when 93 lives were lost. The 2025 total marked the lowest number of deaths in Kamloops since 26 deaths in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Provincewide, BC recorded 1,826 toxic drug deaths in 2025, the first time since 2020 that the annual total fell below 2,000.
Provincial Trends Continue
In January 2026, 150 deaths were reported across the province, averaging 4.8 deaths per day. While this represents a 10% decrease from the 167 deaths in January 2025, the numbers remain consistent with the ongoing crisis.
Nearly three-quarters of deaths involve people aged 30 to 59, and 80% are male. Fentanyl and its analogues continue to dominate toxicology findings, present in nearly eight out of 10 deaths, while smoking remains the most common method of consumption.
Kamloops in Context
Kamloops is part of the Greater Campbell River / Thompson Cariboo region, one of the areas with the highest rates of toxic drug deaths in previous years. The city’s current total of two deaths in 2026 comes after a significant downward trend in 2025, signaling some progress but showing that risks remain.
Historical data highlights the persistence of the crisis in Kamloops:
- 2020: 60 deaths
- 2021: 75 deaths
- 2022: 93 deaths (deadliest year)
- 2023: 86 deaths
- 2024: 91 deaths
- 2025: 54 deaths
Regional and Provincial Patterns
Across BC, the highest number of deaths continues to be reported in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, while the Northern Interior and Kootenay Boundary areas show the highest rates per 100,000 residents.
Officials stress that the data is preliminary and may change as additional toxicology results come in and investigations are finalized.
Even with the decline in Kamloops compared to previous years, the ongoing fatalities highlight the persistent dangers of unregulated drugs across the province and the need for continued public health interventions.
