Toxic drug deaths in B.C. down in May and June, 40 per cent below peak

People take part in a rally in Victoria, B.C., on April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Deaths due to toxic drugs in British Columbia are down about 40 per cent from their peak, falling below 150 in both May and June.

The BC Coroners Service says in a statement that the province recorded 145 deaths in May compared with 181 for the same month last year, while there were 147 overdose deaths in June, down from 185 a year earlier.

Monthly deaths have fallen sharply since peaking at 243 in December 2023, mirroring declines occurring across much of North America.

The BC Coroners Service and government have meanwhile started releasing the occupation of those who died, and the most common jobs are trades, transport and equipment operation, as well as sales and service.

The statement says 69 per cent of the drug-toxicity deaths involved men between the ages of 30 and 59, while 78 per cent of all deaths occurred among males.

The statistics show that the opioid fentanyl is the most common substance detected in those who died this year, followed by methamphetamine and cocaine.

“Forty-seven per cent of deaths reported occurred in a private residence, compared with 21 per cent outdoors,” the statement says.

Smoking continues to be the primary mode of consumption of unregulated toxic drugs, with 64 per cent of investigations indicating the person who died smoked their substances, the statement says

The highest toxic drugs death rate this year is in the Northern Health region with 44 deaths per 100,000 people, and the cities with the highest tolls are Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.