Over 1,700 Lives Lost to Drug Toxicity in First Nine Months of 2024

Unregulated toxic drugs have claimed the lives of 1,749 British Columbians between January and September 2024, according to the latest preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service. The data reveals that 187 people died in August and 183 in September, with an average of six lives lost each day due to suspected unregulated drug use during both months.

While the number of deaths represents an 8% decline compared to the first nine months of 2023, when 1,896 people died, the crisis remains severe. The report highlights that the majority of drug toxicity deaths continue to impact middle-aged men, with 48% of the victims in September aged between 30 and 49, and 77% of the total victims being male.

Additional findings from the report include:

• 1.1% of drug toxicity deaths in September were individuals 18 years old or younger.

• The rate of death among women has significantly increased, with 26% of the deaths in 2024 involving females, resulting in a rate of 21 deaths per 100,000 people—a 60% increase since 2020.

• Vancouver (45), Surrey (19), and Greater Victoria (16) saw the highest number of fatalities in September.

• Vancouver Coastal and Interior Health regions recorded 50 unregulated drug deaths each, though Interior and Northern Health had the highest rates of death per 100,000 people at 5.6 and 4.3, respectively.

• Toxicology reports indicate fentanyl was present in 85% of deaths, while stimulants were detected in 81% of cases.

The province continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the toxic drug supply, with advocates pushing for urgent action to reduce harm and prevent further deaths.