Preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service shows Greater Campbell River is among the local health areas with the highest rates of suspected unregulated drug deaths in 2025.

The area joins Vancouver-Centre North, Lillooet, Terrace and Vancouver-City Centre as having the highest rates in the province.

Province-wide, 1,826 people died in 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity.

That’s about a 21 percent decrease from 2024, when 2,315 people died.

It also marks the first time since 2020 that the yearly total has fallen below 2,000 deaths.

There were 136 suspected deaths in November and 141 in December, or about four and a half deaths per day.

People between 30 and 59 years old accounted for 69 percent of deaths in 2025, and 77 percent of those who died were male.

Nearly half of deaths happened in private residences, compared to 20 percent outdoors.

According to the health authority, Fraser Health recorded the highest number of deaths at 533, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health at 484.

Together, those two regions made up 56-percent of all unregulated drug deaths in the province last year.

Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most common substances detected. Of those who underwent expedited toxicology testing in 2025, 69 percent had fentanyl in their systems.

Fluorofentanyl was found in 54 percent of cases, cocaine in 53 percent, and methamphetamine in 52 percent.

Smoking remains the most common method of consumption at 65 percent, followed by nasal use at 11 percent, injection at 9 percent and oral use at 4 percent.

There was also an increase in suspected drug-toxicity deaths among youth aged 18 and under, rising from 21 in 2024 to 26 in 2025.

Among cases where occupation was known, the most common industries of current or past employment were trades, transport and equipment operators, and sales and service.

The BC Coroners Service notes the numbers are preliminary and subject to change as investigations continue and more toxicology results are finalized.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.