According to preliminary data, 1,826 people have lost their lives in 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity, as reported by the BC Coroners Service.

While still representing a profound loss of life, this reflects an approximate 21% decrease from 2024 (2,315), and the first time since 2020 that deaths due to unregulated drug toxicity have totalled fewer than 2,000 people within a year.

There were 136 and 141 suspected unregulated drug deaths in November and December 2025, respectively. The number of unregulated drug deaths in November and December equates to about 4.5 deaths per day. In 2025, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 69% 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 20% outdoors.

By Health Authority, in 2025, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities (533 and 484 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 (69%) in their systems, followed by fluorofentanyl (54%), cocaine (53%) and methamphetamine (52%). Smoking is the most common mode of consumption (65%), followed by nasal insufflation (11%), injection (9%) and oral (4%).

The unregulated drug dashboard has been updated to include data for 2025.

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:

• By local health area, the highest rates of suspected unregulated drug deaths were in Vancouver-Centre North, Lillooet, Greater Campbell River, Terrace and Vancouver-City Centre.
• Youth (18 years old and younger) suspected drug-toxicity deaths have increased from 21 deaths in 2024 to 26 deaths.
• Among deaths where occupation industry is known, the two most common industries of current or past employment continue to be trades, transport and equipment operators, and sales and service.

Learn More:

Drug Toxicity Deaths in 2025: https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiODBmZjNmYjktNmM3MS00ZTZmLWI2MGYtMTI2ZjM1MTIxZjUyIiwidCI6IjZmZGI1MjAwLTNkMGQtNGE4YS1iMDM2LWQzNjg1ZTM1OWFkYyJ9

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