Island Health issues warning after spike in drug overdoses in Greater Victoria

Island Health have issued a warning after seeing a spike in drug poisining in Greater Victoria.

The drug poisoning alert, which was issued on Tuesday, March 11th, states that those unregulated substances face increased risk.

The advisory provides tips for safer drug use, and encourages users in the Victoria area to visit their local overdose prevention site.

Prior to the alert being issued, Victoria Buzz had reached out VicPD after there were four deaths reported in downtown and Saanich.

The deaths have been confirmed, though the exact cause remains undetermined. Overdose is suspected as the cause. We have reached out the BC Coroners Services to confirm the possible cause.

One of the deaths occurred on Saturday on Broad Street, while the others took place on Monday before noon. The other deaths occurred in the former Ricki’s parking lot on Douglas Street, outside the Cool Aid building on Johnson Street, and near the parking lot of the Quadra Street Thrifty Foods near Cloverdale Avenue.

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for #GreaterVictoria.

Visit Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://t.co/u6zRPeYL61 to find information on supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services & more. pic.twitter.com/qZF7s6JQcX

— Island Health (@VanIslandHealth) March 11, 2025

The island’s health authority recommends:

• Getting drugs tested, a confidential and free service
• Learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose
• Pick up free Naloxone Kits and other harm reduction supplies and carry it with you
  • Find a location: Toward the Heart site finder
  • Visit one of the Care and Connection Kiosks
• Don’t use alone
• If using alone, download and use an app like Connect by Lifeguard, the Brave App or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888-688-NORS (6677)
• Use at an overdose prevention site
• Consider using an Opioid Agonist Treatment
• Sign up for toxic drug alerts:
  • Text JOIN to 253787 to subscribe
  • Subscribers receive information about increases in toxic drug poisonings in their community
  • Subscribers can text OD to 253787 to anonymously submit information about unregulated drug poisonings

In early February, the BC government released the final numbers regarding unregulated drug deaths in 2024, with at least 2,253 deaths being caused by the toxic drug supply crisis.

Cumulatively, this number represents a 13% decrease from the numbers in 2023 and was less than the total toxic drug deaths from the past three years, according to the Province.

Last year, approximately 70% of those who died of toxic drug usage were between the ages of 30 and 59-years-old.

Notably, the number of women who died from this crisis has increased by 65% since 2020.

The specific areas most profoundly impacted by toxic drug deaths are Vancouver-Centre North (422), Lillooet (116), Greater Campbell River (109), Terrace (109) and Prince George (103).

In the Greater Victoria area, 157 people died of toxic drug usage during 2024—a slight decrease from the 174 who died in 2023.