Eight people in Cranbrook have died from toxic drug poisoning so far this year, according to updated data from the BC Coroners Service.
The fatalities are part of a wider regional impact.
According to the latest figures, one person passed away in July and three more in August in the East Kootenay. Meanwhile, in the West Kootenay-Boundary, there were seven deaths in July and one in August.
That brings the total for 2025 to 12 deaths in the East Kootenay and 24 in the West Kootenay-Boundary.
The Coroners Service does not release monthly figures by community, but year-to-date totals include:
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Nelson: 9
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Cranbrook: 8
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Trail: 7
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Castlegar: 3
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Grand Forks: 3
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Fernie: 2
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Arrow Lakes: 2
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Creston: 1
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Golden: 1
Province-wide, 153 people died from toxic drug poisoning in July, and 149 in August.
The BC Coroners Service says fentanyl and its analogues were detected in 70 per cent of cases.
Cocaine and methamphetamine were each found in 52 per cent of toxicology results.
The province says it remains under a public health emergency, which was first declared in 2016 due to the increasing number of toxic drug deaths.
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