Seventy-six people in Kelowna have died so far this year because of an illegal drug overdose, the BC Coroners Service reports.

That compares to 89 such deaths in all of last year, and 104 in 2023.

Deaths due to illegal drug overdoses total 14 so far this year in Penticton and 24 in Vernon. Last year, there were 28 such fatalities in Penticton and 44 in Vernon.

Across the Okanagan, there have been 147 deaths due to illegal drug overdoses, compared to 199 in all of 2024 and 223 in all of 2023.

Fentanyl has been a factor in almost 80 per cent of all illegal drug overdose deaths so far this year across B.C., down slightly from previous years.

Of those who’ve died this year from an illegal drug overdose, their occupation is listed as ‘unknown’ for 55 per cent of them. Workers in trades, t

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