119 people in B.C. died from suspected unregulated-drug toxicity in April, according to new preliminary figures from the BC Coroners Service. That's an average of about four deaths a day.

So far this year, people between the ages of 30 and 59 account for 68-percent of those deaths, while 76-percent of victims were male.

The report suggests some improvement in younger age groups.

Since 2021, the death rate among people aged 19 to 59 has dropped significantly, while rates among those 60 and older have stayed relatively steady.

The highest number of deaths in 2026 has been recorded in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions, which together account for more than half of the province's total.

Most deaths continue to happen indoors.

The Coroners Service says 81-percent occurred in places such as private homes, supportive housing, shelters, and single-room occupancies, while 18 percent happened outdoors.

Toxicology testing found fluorofentanyl in two-thirds of cases, followed by cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and several benzodiazepines.

Smoking remained the most common method of drug consumption, accounting for 70 percent of deaths.

The BC Coroners Service notes the numbers are preliminary and could change as more investigations and toxicology results are completed.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.