The BC Coroners Service has announced that over the last five years, 126 children and youths’ deaths can be attributed to the use of toxic, unregulated drugs.
These metrics were taken between the years of 2019 and 2023 and show that the toxic drug crisis is impacting people of all ages and backgrounds.
In 2023 alone, 2,551 lives were lost due to toxic drug use and 28 of those lost lives belonged to children and youth.
For people below the age of 19-years-old, toxic drugs are currently the leading cause of death.
According to the BC Coroners Service, the use of fentanyl was present in 83% of all these deaths.
Aside from fentanyl, other opioids such as heroin, codeine, methadone and hydromorphone were present in 30 of the 126 deaths recorded in the last five years.
Specifically, they say that hydromorphone was found in 16 of these 126 deaths and it was never used alone—it was always used with at least one other illicit substance.
Of the 126 deaths, the BC Coroners Service says that 60% of those who passed were between the ages of 17 and 18-years-old.
They added that just over half of the deaths were in young girls, which is in stark contrast to the BC Coroners Service general data on toxic drug deaths’ public health emergency initiated in April 2016.
In addition to the drug data gathered by the BC Coroners Service, they also found that around 67% had a mental-health diagnosis or displayed evidence of one and two-thirds had at some point been receiving services through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Related:
- Canada approves BC legislation to ban use of drugs in all public spaces
- Nearly 200 British Columbian lives were lost to toxic drugs in March alone
In response to the announcement by the BC Coroners Service, Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Green Party was the only party leader to release a statement regarding the lives lost and the government’s response.
“In the last five years, 126 children and youth have died because politicians won’t act on what we know works,” said Furstenau.
“Our youth deserve better than empty promises. It’s time for real action, not just words, to keep our kids and all British Columbians safe.”
She says that children are growing up in an increasingly dangerous environment and they need education, support and resources to navigate these risks along with safe spaces where youth feel support and access mental health and harm reduction services without judgement.
“Education is vital. Rather than stigmatizing, we should focus on informing and supporting our youth to make healthier decisions,” continued Furstenau.
“We must equip our children with accurate information about drugs and harm reduction practices. Open, honest conversations about the public health emergency we face, where six people die each day from unregulated toxic-drugs, are essential,” she continued.
Furstenau brought up the fact that there is only one drug-checking site in Victoria, which is also the only one of its id on Vancouver Island.
She wants to see more of these sites throughout the Island as well as BC to help mitigate some of the drug-related deaths that are occuring throughout the province.
“We also need to address root causes such as anxiety, depression, and social challenges that can drive young people to substance use,” said Furstenau.
“There’s a lack of support, particularly mental health care, in schools—we must fill these gaps and make mental health professionals accessible in schools province-wide.”
Premier David Eby, Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad and BC United Party leader Kevin Falcon have not made any public statement on the youth’s drug deaths.
