While rate of fatal overdoses is falling across B.C., things are degrading in Penticton, where the city is on pace to have its worst year ever for overdoses. 

New data released last week by the B.C. Coroners Service shows nine people were killed by an overdose in the first half of this year.

In all cases, fentanyl was detected as the main culprit. 

Penticton is on pace to eclipse last year’s death toll of 15 and is now ranked between much larger cities like Maple Ridge and Chilliwack. 

This comes at a time when harm reduction initiatives have become a focus of debate in the community. 

“I never thought I would live to see the day or hear this kind of story coming forward to council, that you have to go out there and collect needles,” lamented Coun. Jake Kimberley during a meeting earlier this month, during which members of the city’s sharps committee presented on the issue. 

“It just boggles my mind as to what we are heading for in society right now. It really is quite scary,” Kimberley added, after thanking the group for the work they do. 

During that meeting, Ian Gerbrandt of OneSky Community Resources explained multiple grant applications have been submitted to upper levels of government requesting more funds to tackle the issue. 

B.C.-wide, the fatal overdose rate has fallen around 30 per cent this year. Okanagan-wide numbers are also falling, with the region on pace for 78 deaths by year end — short of last year’s 126.