158 people have died in B.C. in September from using toxic drugs according to report

The B.C. Coroner’s Service says 158 people died in September from suspected use of unregulated drugs which equates to about 5.3 deaths per day. The service’s September 2025 Drug Toxicity Deaths report shows that throughout 2025, the cities experiencing the highest number of unregulated drug deaths have been Vancouver with 314, Surrey 137 and Greater Victoria 93. The report also shows more youth have died than last year. During the period between January and September, 20 people age 18 years or younger have died in B.C. compared to 17 during those same months last year. Other demographics show 69 per cent of those who died from January to September were between the ages of 30 to 59 and 78 per cent were men. The Coroner’s Service shows fentanyl or its aggregates was found in 84 per cent of the expedited toxicology tests on those who died. Cocaine was found in 52 per cent of cases and methamphetamine and fluorofentanyl were each found in 51 percent of cases. Smoking was the most common consumption method. Read more:  First Nation in B.C. at UN calling for government help in battling toxic drug crisis Loss of friends to a toxic drug supply inspires filmmaker to make a documentary Another finding in the report is that where the occupation of the deceased was known, most worked in the trades, were transport or equipment operators or worked in sales and service. The Coroner’s Service’s notes in the news release that the data are preliminary and subject to change as investigations are concluded. The province first declared a public health emergency related to substance-related harms on April 14, 2016, according to the government. Continue Reading