B.C. toxic drug deaths decline 21% in 2025 as fentanyl concentrations drop
British Columbia recorded 1,826 unregulated drug toxicity deaths in 2025, a 21% decrease from 2024. New research links the decline to decreasing fentanyl concentrations in the illicit drug supply, though nearly five people continue to die daily.
According to preliminary data, 1,826 people lost their lives in 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity in British Columbia, as reported by the BC Coroners Service. 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. Despite the decline, nearly five British Columbians continue to lose their lives each day as the province approaches 10 years of the public health emergency regarding toxic drugs.
New research using drug-checking results provides insight into the downward trend. A study set to be published in April's issue of the International Journal of Drug Policy found that as fentanyl concentrations increased in B.C.'s health service delivery areas, so did the number of fatal overdoses nearby. The researchers used data from drug-checking services around the province from October 2018 until June 2025, and analyzed nearly 48,000 samples over that timespan. The research found that the samples at drug checking sites became less concentrated in fentanyl over the years, which was associated with a drop in toxic drug deaths.
The research found it was consistent over all of the included areas that there is an association between fentanyl concentrations and how many people are dying that month. Researchers were able to estimate that with each three quarter of a percentage point increase in the average fentanyl concentration in Vancouver, the city experienced one more death that month.
However, lowered fentanyl concentration alone isn't the sole factor behind the provincewide, and continent-wide, drop in toxic drug deaths. Over time, the drug supply has become more complicated with other things like benzodiazepines and other tranquilizers. In analyzing the reasons behind the potential drop in overdose deaths across Canada in 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada notes that it's likely that there is simply a smaller population now at risk. Population declines are in part because many lives were lost over previous years, the agency notes in a report from last December.
A North America-wide shift towards smoking drugs, instead of injecting them, could mean that those who use drugs are able to control their doses more easily and not overdose. Previous research has found that harm reduction efforts — like providing naloxone and overdose prevention sites — have prevented thousands of deaths in B.C.
In January 2026, 150 deaths were reported, representing a decrease of 10% from the total number investigated in January 2025 (167). This still equates to 4.8 deaths daily and is consistent with the number of deaths reported monthly throughout 2025. Nearly three-quarters of the lives lost in January 2026 were between 30 and 59 years, and 80% were male.
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. There were 136 and 141 suspected unregulated drug deaths in November and December 2025, respectively.
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. In January 2026, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health authorities (42 and 36 deaths, respectively), making up 52% of all such deaths during 2026. The highest rates in January 2026 were in Northern Health (58 deaths per 100,000 individuals) and Interior Health (40 per 100,000).
By local health area, in 2025, 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 increased from 21 deaths in 2024 to 26 deaths in 2025.
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%). Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be identified in a significant majority of deaths, with nearly eight in every 10 tests returning positive results in January 2026.
Smoking is the most common mode of consumption (65%), followed by nasal insufflation (11%), injection (9%) and oral (4%). Smoking remains the dominant mode of consumption, with evidence indicating that almost three of every four decedents in January 2026 consumed the substances that led to their deaths in this manner.
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. Data contained in the reports is preliminary and subject to change as additional toxicological results are received and investigations conclude.