Data reported by the BC Coroners Service for March 2026 saw 135 lives lost to suspected unregulated drug toxicity, equal to about 4.4 deaths per day.

In 2026, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 68 per cent of drug-toxicity deaths in the province, and 78 per cent were male.

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By health authority in 2026, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (101 and 107 deaths, respectively), making up 52 per cent of all such deaths.

So far in 2026, 82 per cent of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside in places like private residences, social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, and other locations.

Seventeen per cent occurred outside in places like vehicles, sidewalks, streets, and parks.

In 2026, fluorofentanyl was detected in 66 per cent of decedents who underwent expedited testing, followed by fentanyl (59 per cent), cocaine (56 per cent), methamphetamine (54 per cent), bromazolam (24 per cent), desalkylgidazepam (24 per cent), and hydromorphone (5 per cent).

Smoking continues to be the most common mode of consumption (72 per cent), followed by nasal insufflation (8 per cent), injection (7 per cent), and oral (4 per cent).