The BC Coroners Service released updated stats Thursday on the number of illicit drug -related deaths for this year .
Health Minister Terry Lake, says although last month was the first time they have seen a plateau in the numbers, they still remain far too high.
“While that is cause for hope it is very, very cautious optimism we attach with those numbers. One point is not a trend and so we have to make sure we continue to monitor and do everything we can to make sure that those numbers come down.”
From January through May of this year, there were 308 accidental illicit drug overdose deaths in the province-a 75% increase over the number of deaths occurring during the same period last year.
In 2015 there was 1 fentanyl detected death both in Quesnel and Williams Lake.
Interior Health says they are looking at potential safe consumption sites in Kamloops and Kelowna.