The BC Coroners Service has released new data on unregulated drug toxicity, revealing continued high death rates in several regions of the province.
According to the latest report, the highest rates of drug toxicity deaths were recorded in the Interior and Northern Health regions, each with a rate of 35 deaths per 100,000 people.
Northern Health reported five unregulated drug deaths in February and twelve in March. Of those, nine occurred in the Prince George area.
Preliminary provincial data show that 132 people died in February and 143 in March 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity. This equates to an average of 4.6 to 4.7 deaths per day in B.C.
By local health area, the highest death rates were reported in Vancouver – Centre North, Lillooet, Greater Campbell River, Terrace and Prince George.
The cities with the highest number of unregulated drug deaths in 2025 to date are Vancouver (97), Surrey (52) and Greater Victoria (28).
In 2025, fentanyl was detected in 70 per cent of unregulated drug deaths, followed by methamphetamine (50 per cent), fluoro-fentanyl (47 per cent), cocaine (46 per cent), bromazolam (37 per cent), desalkylgidazepam (34 per cent), and hydromorphone (3 per cent).
The majority of drug consumption occurred by smoking (62 per cent), followed by nasal insufflation (11 per cent), injection (11 per cent), and oral ingestion (5 per cent).
About 75 per cent of reported deaths occurred indoors. Of those, 45 per cent were in private residences and 43 per cent in other types of housing, including social and supportive housing. Only 20 per cent of deaths occurred outdoors.
