BC Coroners Service says according to preliminary data, 153 people in July and 149 people in August died due to unregulated drug toxicity in the province.

In 2025, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 69% of drug-toxicity deaths, and 78% were male.

By health authority, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (352 and 321 deaths, respectively) making up 55% of all such deaths during 2025.

Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most-common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing at 70%, followed by cocaine (52%) and methamphetamine (52%).

With 64% of deaths showing evidence of smoking, it continues to be the most common mode of consumption in 2025.

Additional findings include youth (19 and younger) suspected drug toxicity deaths between January and August increased from 15 deaths reported in 2024 to 21 reported in 2025, similar to the numbers reported during the same period in 2021 (20), 2022 (25) and 2023 (21).

The highest rates of deaths reported are in Northern Health (46 per 100,000); and 48% of deaths reported occurred in a private residence, compared with 21% outdoors.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.