Toxic drug deaths in BC down by 21% since this time last year

According to the latest report from the BC Coroners Service (BCCS), toxic drug deaths are down significantly since 2024, though many people still tragically died of drug poisoning. 

Preliminary data indicates that at least 1,826 people lost their lives in 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity. 

This data marks an approximate 21% decrease from the number of toxic drug deaths in 2024, which was 2,315. 

According to BCCS, this year’s data marks the first time since 2020 that deaths due to unregulated drug toxicity have totalled fewer than 2,000 people within a year.

In 2025, Vancouver Island was the region of BC with the third most toxic drug deaths. At least 343 died of drug poisoning in Island Health’s jurisdiction. 

Ahead of Vancouver Island was Coastal Vancouver with 484 deaths and Fraser Valley had the most toxic drug deaths with 533 lives lost.

Throughout the last year, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 69% of drug-toxicity deaths in the province. BCCS data shows that 77% of those deaths were among men. 

Nearly half of the toxic drug deaths in 2025 occurred in a private residence, the most dangerous place to use drugs. 

Just last month, the Province announced they would be ending the three-year decriminalization pilot project which largely tried to reduce drug-related stigma in an effort to save lives.

However, drug-use advocacy experts say that the BC government fumbled this endeavour and ended up increasing stigma surrounding drug use as a result of their lack of conviction. 

Fentanyl and its analogues were once again the most common substance detected in those who lost their lives. 

Behind fentanyl (69%), taxological results found fluorofentanyl (54%), cocaine (53%) and methamphetamine (52%) in the decedents’ systems. 

Furthermore, BCCS determined that smoking is the most common mode of consumption (65%) among the dead. 

More than 17,970 deaths have been attributed to drug poisoning, or overdose since the public health emergency surrounding toxic drug deaths was declared in 2016.

Earlier Thursday, the BC government announced it approved an initiative that will see more nasal naloxone distributed throughout the province in an effort to curb toxic drug deaths. 

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of a drug poisoning, or overdose.