Preliminary BC Coroners Service data show 133 people died in September 2026 due to suspected unregulated drug toxicity.
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The BC Coroners Service says the September 2026 figure works out to about four deaths per day across the province. For 2026 to date, the release reports a total of 1,143 unregulated drug-toxicity deaths.
In 2026, people aged 30 to 59 accounted for 70% of drug-toxicity deaths in BC, and 76% of decedents were male. By health authority, the most deaths in 2026 are in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities, with 311 and 298 deaths respectively, together making up 53% of all such deaths.
Northern Health is reported to have the highest rate of unregulated drug-toxicity deaths in 2026, at 43.4 per 100,000 people. The release also says 78% of unregulated drug-toxicity deaths in 2026 occurred indoors, including private residences, social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, hotels and other locations.
The BC Coroners Service reports that 20% of deaths occurred outside, including in vehicles, on sidewalks and streets, and in campgrounds and parks. For decedents who underwent expedited toxicological testing in 2026, fluorofentanyl was detected in 68% of cases, followed by cocaine (55%), methamphetamine (53%), fentanyl (50%) and desalkylgidazepam (20%).
The release says smoking is the most common mode of consumption in 2026 among unregulated drug-toxicity deaths, accounting for 67%. It also cautions that the data are preliminary and subject to change as additional toxicological results are received and investigations end.
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