Six people have already died of toxic drug poisonings in the West Kootenay this year.
Data released June 24 by the BC Coroners Service for the period of January to April shows four deaths in the Nelson local health area, which includes Salmo and parts of the Slocan Valley, one in Trail and one in the Arrow Lakes area that includes Nakusp.
Nelson's four deaths are the most in the Kootenays, followed by three in Cranbrook. Thirty-six people died in the West Kootenay in 2024.
There have been 223 such deaths from toxic drugs in the West Kootenay since 2016 when the provincial government declared a crisis that coincided with the introduction of fentanyl into the illicit market.
The Coroners Service also announced 165 people in B.C. died during the month of April. Nearly 17,000 have been killed province wide since 2016.
