The South Okanagan and Similkameen have seen toxic drug deaths stay in the single-digits for the first quarter of 2025.
The BC Coroners Service has released its latest report on the toxic drug crisis up until April.
According to that report, the Penticton Local Health Area has seen four toxic drug deaths so far this year, the Southern Okanagan - which includes Oliver and Osoyoos - has seen three and Summerland has seen two deaths.
In the Similkameen Valley, the Princeton and Keremeos Local Health Areas have not recorded a toxic drug death so far this year.
In 2024, the Southern Okanagan and Summerland Local Health Areas recorded just five and three deaths respectively for the entire year.
Penticton saw a total of 27 toxic drug deaths last year, a slight increase from 25 in 2023 and below the record high of 31 in 2022.
Princeton saw two deaths in 2024 due to an overdose and Keremeos saw three.
The presence of fentanyl continues to be a major connection with fatal overdoses in the Interior and throughout B.C., according to the BC Coroners Service report.
So far in 2025, in the Interior fentanyl was detected in 73 per cent of fatal overdoses, which is a slight drop compared to previous years where it has been over 80 per cent.
