February 19,2026
RED FM News Desk
Preliminary data from the B.C. Coroners Service shows that 1,826 people died in 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity. While the toll remains significant, it represents a roughly 21 per cent decrease from 2024, when 2,315 deaths were recorded, and marks the first year since 2020 that the annual total has fallen below 2,000.
There were 136 suspected deaths in November and 141 in December 2025 — about 4.5 deaths per day during those months. People aged 30 to 59 accounted for 69 per cent of deaths, and 77 per cent were male. Nearly half (48 per cent) of deaths occurred in private residences, compared with 20 per cent outdoors.
By region, the highest numbers of deaths were reported in Fraser Health (533) and Vancouver Coastal Health (484), together representing 56 per cent of the provincial total.
Fentanyl and its analogues remained the most commonly detected substances in expedited toxicology testing. Of those tested in 2025, 69 per cent had fentanyl in their systems, followed by fluorofentanyl (54 per cent), cocaine (53 per cent) and methamphetamine (52 per cent). Smoking was the most common method of consumption at 65 per cent, followed by nasal use (11 per cent), injection (9 per cent) and oral consumption (4 per cent).
The updated unregulated drug dashboard now includes 2025 data. Officials note the figures are preliminary and may change as investigations and toxicology results are finalized.
Additional findings show the highest death rates by local health area were in Vancouver-Centre North, Lillooet, Greater Campbell River, Terrace and Vancouver-City Centre. Suspected drug-toxicity deaths among youth aged 18 and under increased from 21 in 2024 to 26 in 2025. Among cases where employment history was known, the most common industries were trades, transport and equipment operations, and sales and service.
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