The number of people who died after overdosing on “illicit drugs” in Kelowna and Vernon was up last year according to data from the B.C. Coroners Service.
17 people died from overdoses in Kelowna in 2015 while nine died as a result of overdoses in Vernon. That is an increase from the year before when 12 people fatally overdosed in Kelowna and six died after overdosing in Vernon.
The Okanagan cities are not alone, the number of fatal overdoses was up 27 per cent province wide last year compared to the year before.
Read More: Kelowna Woman speaks out after her brother’s fatal overdose
Because of the statistics, Interior Health Authority is trying to draw attention to the issue. The health authority points out that both those who use drugs regularly and casual users are dying.
“Most overdose deaths are occurring when mixing substances, such as drugs and alcohol,” writes Interior Health in an information bulletin.
“There is not one specific ‘bad batch’ of drugs. The majority of overdose symptoms are being reported after using opioid drugs such as OxyContin and heroin.”
The full information bulletin including tips on how to protect yourself is available here.
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