B.C. sees 28 per cent drop in toxic drug deaths in April compared to previous year

Une trousse de Naloxone pour prévenir les surdoses.

The B.C. Coroners Service says 119 people in the province died due to suspected unregulated drug toxicity in April, averaging just under four deaths per day.

That is a substantial drop from the same moth last year, when 165 people died from toxic drugs.

Of the 119 deaths, 68 per cent were aged between 30 and 59-years-old, with 76 per cent of the total deaths being male.

Compared to previous months in 2026, April saw the lowest number of deaths per day and second lowest total behind February, when there were 115 deaths.

So far in 2026, the Vancouver Coastal Health region has accounted for 145 deaths and Fraser health has seen 134 deaths, making up 53 per cent of all toxic drug deaths in B.C.

This year, 81 per cent of toxic drug deaths happened inside places such as private residences, social housing, shelters and other locations.

The remaining deaths happened in outdoor spaces including vehicles, streets and parks.

Fluorofentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid was the most commonly detected substance found in the deceased, with two-thirds of those tested being positive.

Cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine were all found in more than half of those cases as well.

The data from the BC Coroners Service says smoking continues to be the most common use of consumption, at 70 per cent.