More than 300 people died in July and August from toxic drugs, B.C. Coroners Service says.
There were 153 deaths in July and 149 in August, bringing the total for 2025 to 1,218 deaths, according to the latest data released Thursday (Oct. 9).
Toxic drugs killed an average of five people per day in July and August, with 4.9 and 4.8 deaths a day respectively. The B.C. Coroners Service reported the same numbers for May and June, 153 and 149 deaths respectively.
However, the data shows that deaths among youth – those aged 19 and younger – increased in the first eight months of 2025, compared to the previous year. There have been 21 deaths reported in 2025, while there were 15 reported in 2024.
Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria continue to report the highest number of deaths in 2025.
Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities have reported 352 and 351 deaths, respectively in 2025, making up 55 per cent of all deaths in the province. However, Northern Health has reported the highest rates of death.
Forty-eight per cent of reported deaths happened in private residences, compared to 21 per cent outdoors.
The B.C. Coroners Service said fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most-common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing. Of those who died, expedited testing found fentanyl in the systems of 70 per cent of people, followed by cocaine at 52 per cent and methamphetamine in 52 per cent.
Smoking continues to be the most common mode of consumption of toxic drugs at 64 per cent in 2025.
