As fentanyl continues to drive fatal overdoses across B.C., Penticton saw the highest per-capita rate of deaths in the Okanagan.
According to the BC Coroners Service annual report on illicit drug toxicity deaths, Penticton saw 27 fatal overdoses in 2024.
The local health area's (LHA) per capita rate, that is deaths per 100,000 population, was 56.2, which placed it within the top 20 highest death rates across LHAs in the province.
Vernon was the next closest per capita at 54.6 per 100,000, followed by Keremeos at 49 and Central Okanagan at 41.
In raw numbers, Vernon saw 44 fatal overdoses in 2024, Keremeos saw three, and the Central Okanagan saw 105.
The provincial rate of death was 40 per 100,000 in 2024, which was down from 47 per 100,000 in 2023, 45 per 100,000 in 2022 and 44 per 100,000 in 2021.
The Okanagan's deaths were also down from record highs in 2023 both in Vernon and the Central Okanagan and from the record high number of deaths in Penticton in 2022.
Salmon Arm's deaths dropped dramatically from 21 in 2023 to nine in 2024, a per capita drop from 52.6 to 22.2 per 100,000.
Summerland saw its per capital numbers drop from 30.4 to 22.5, as its fatal overdoses dropped to three in 2024 from four in 2023.
According to the annual report, fentanyl remained a key driver of fatal overdoses, with the drug being detected in 78 per cent of expedited and preliminary toxicological testing in 2024.
Interior Health issued far fewer toxic or contaminated drug alerts for Penticton and the South Okanagan in 2024 compared to 2023.
Out of two alerts issued for the South Okanagan, one noted the presence of fentanyl in the drug supply, while the other did not name a particular type of drug-related to multiple overdoses.
