VICTORIA – According to preliminary data, 150 people died in October 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity, as reported by the BC Coroners Service.

The number of unregulated drug deaths in October equates to about 4.8 deaths per day. In 2025, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 70% of drug-toxicity deaths in the province, and 77% were male. Forty-eight per cent of deaths reported occurred in a private residence, compared with 21% outdoors.

By health authority, in 2025, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (448 and 408 deaths, respectively), making up 56% of all such deaths.

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 in their systems (69%), followed by fluorofentanyl (53%), cocaine (53%) and methamphetamine (52%). Smoking is the most common mode of consumption (65%), followed by nasal insufflation (11%), injection (10%) 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:

• in October, more than 90% of suspected unregulated drug toxicity deaths that underwent expedited toxicology testing detected a stimulant, compared to about 80% detected in October 2024;
• youth (18 years and younger) suspected drug-toxicity deaths between January and October increased from 17 deaths reported in 2024 to 21 reported in 2025; and
• among deaths where occupation industry is known, the two most-common industries of current or past employment are:
  • trades, transport and equipment operators, and
  • sales and service.

Learn More:

October 2025 Drug Toxicity Deaths:
https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYjlkYTNmZjEtNzVjYi00NTMzLWE5NmEtMjU4NjEzYTMyNjVjIiwidCI6IjZmZGI1MjAwLTNkMGQtNGE4YS1iMDM2LWQzNjg1ZTM1OWFkYyJ9

Youth Unregulated Drug Toxicity Deaths, 2019-23:
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