BC Coroners Service Confirms 192 British Columbians Lost To Toxic Drugs In March 2024

The BC Coroners Service shows toxic drugs claimed the lives of at least 192 people in March, and at least 572 lives in the first three months of 2024.

That’s down 11 percent from March of last year, when 6.9 people died each day from toxic drugs. This March, 6.2 deaths per day were tied to the unregulated drug supply.

So far this year, about seven in every 10 of those who have died from toxic drugs were between the ages of 30 and 59. While nearly three-quarters of those killed have been males, it is worth noting that the rate of death among females is climbing year over year: 23 deaths per 100,000 in 2024, compared with 20.6 deaths per 100,000 females for all of 2023.

For British Columbians between 10 and 59, unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death, accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural disease combined.

Since the public-health emergency was first declared in April 2016, at least 14,400 people in the province have lost their lives to toxic drugs.

So far this year, 84 percent of unregulated drug deaths have occurred inside (47 percent in private homes and 37 percent inside social and supportive housing, etc.), and 15 percent were reported to be outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, or parks.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.