VICTORIA – According to preliminary data, 158 people died in September 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity, as reported by the BC Coroners Service.

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

By health authority, in 2025, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (406 and 366 deaths, respectively) making up 56% of all such deaths. Throughout 2025, the cities experiencing the highest number of unregulated drug deaths have been Vancouver (314), Surrey (137) and Greater Victoria (93).

Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing. Decedents who underwent expedited testing in 2025 were found to have fentanyl or fentanyl analogues in their systems (84%), followed by cocaine (52%) and methamphetamine (51%). Smoking is the most common mode of consumption (65%), followed by nasal insufflation (11%), injection (9%), and oral (5%).

It is important to note that data from the report is preliminary and subject to change as additional toxicological results are received and investigations conclude.

Additional key findings in 2025 include:

• youth (18 years and younger) suspected drug-toxicity deaths between January and September increased from 17 deaths reported in 2024 to 20 reported in 2025;
• the number of unregulated drug deaths in September equates to about 5.3 deaths per day;
• the highest rates of deaths reported are in Northern Health (47 per 100,000) followed by Interior Health (38 per 100,000); and
• 48% of deaths reported occurred in a private residence, compared with 21% outdoors.

Learn More:

September 2025 Drug Toxicity Deaths: https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMmQ5OWRkN2YtNTBhOC00YzE4LWJmMWQtYTczOGUzYmU5NmRmIiwidCI6IjZmZGI1MjAwLTNkMGQtNGE4YS1iMDM2LWQzNjg1ZTM1OWFkYyJ9

Youth Unregulated Drug Toxicity Deaths, 2019-2023: youth_unregulated_drug_toxicity_deaths_in_bc_2019-2023.pdf (gov.bc.ca)

BC Coroners Service Death Review Panel: An Urgent Response to a Continuing Crisis: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/death-review-panel/an_urgent_response_to_a_continuing_crisis_report.pdf

BC Ministry of Health mental health and substance use supports: https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/

BC Centre on Substance Use: https://www.bccsu.ca