In April, 119 people in British Columbia lost their lives to suspected unregulated-drug toxicity according to data reported by the BC Coroners Service.

That is approximately four deaths a day.

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For 2026, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 have accounted for 68 per cent of drug-toxicity deaths in the province, and 76 per cent were male.

Separating by health authority, in 2026 the highest number of deaths were in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health authorities – 145 and 134 deaths respectively. This accounts for 53 per cent of reported deaths.

So far in 2026, 81 per cent of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside in places such as private residences, social and supportive housing, single-room occupancies, shelters, and other locations, and 18 per cent occurred outside in places such as vehicles, sidewalks, streets, and parks.

Fluorofentanyl was detected in 67 per cent of deaths who underwent expedited testing, followed by cocaine (57 per cent), fentanyl (56 per cent), methamphetamine (54 per cent), desalkylgidazepam (24 per cent), bromazolam (23 per cent) and hydromorphone (5 per cent).

Smoking continues to be the most common mode of consumption (70 per cent).

This is followed by nasal inhalation (10 per cent), injection (8 per cent), and oral (3 per cent).