BC Coroners Service data shows 113 toxic drug deaths in July and 126 in August, the lowest levels for those months since 2019.
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Toxic drug deaths in British Columbia in July and August have dropped to the lowest levels for those months since 2019, according to data from the BC Coroners Service.
The coroner’s figures show 113 people died in July and 126 died in August, decreases of 50 per cent and 40 per cent from their respective peaks.
Looking at the longer span, deaths from January to August reached 1,015, down 41 per cent from the same period in 2023, when deaths peaked across the province, and down 18 per cent from last year.
The data also reports that unregulated drug deaths averaged 3.6 per day in July and 4.1 per day in August, both the lowest levels since 2019.
By health authority, the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities each recorded 68 deaths when July and August are combined, the highest total among B.C. regions.
The decline follows a peak of 2,591 toxic drug deaths in 2023 and reflects broader drops being seen across North America, according to the same figures. In Vancouver, a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) took place on Aug. 31, 2023, to mark International Overdose Awareness Day.
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