Toxic drug crisis shows no sign of slowing in B.C.

New data shared by the BC Coroner’s Service shows five people died each day in October from toxic drug use in that province. According to preliminary numbers, 150 people died in October due to poisoned drugs bought on the street. The Canadian Association for Mental Health (CAMH) explains that “the unregulated drug market in Canada distributes products of unknown potency. These are often contaminated with unexpected and harmful drugs. Because of this, people who purchase drugs from the unregulated market are at high risk of fatal drug poisoning.” The BC Coroner’s Service says fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing of the deceased. It was found in 69 per cent of deaths, followed by fluorofentanyl and cocaine at 53 per cent. Methamphetamine was next at 52 per cent. The service notes all the data is preliminary until investigations are completed. According to the coroner’s service, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths happened in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities, making up 56 per cent of all such deaths. “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,” the service notes in a news release. Read more: First Nation in B.C. at UN calling for government help in battling toxic drug crisis B.C.’s provincial health officer declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency in 2016. Since that time, according to provincial data, more than 16,000 people have died from drug poisonings in the province. Continue Reading