Toxic drugs killed an average of 5 people a day in B.C. during July, August

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.

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