776 people died from toxic drugs in B.C. in the first half of 2026

The B.C. Coroners Service says 138 people died from toxic drugs in June, the third-most deaths reported in a single month so far this year.

That equates to approximately 4.6 deaths per day, the latest data released Tuesday shows.

In total, there have been 776 deaths in the first half of 2026, the latest data shows. That’s compared to the 926 deaths during the same period in 2025.

Deaths among people aged 30 and 59 accounted for 68 per cent of overdose deaths in B.C. between Jan. 1 and June 30. Seventy-five per cent of those who died were male.

Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities continue to report the highest number of deaths out of all the health authorities, with 206 and 200 deaths, respectively. The two make up 52 per cent of deaths so far in 2026.

Eighty-one per cent of deaths in 2026 happened indoors at places such as private residences, social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters and other locations. Of those, 53 per cent of the deaths were in private residences.

Fluorofentanyl was detected in 67 per cent of those who died who underwent expedited testing, followed by cocaine at 55 per cent, fentanyl at 53 per cent, methamphetamine at 52 per cent, desalkylgidazepam at 23 per cent, bromazolam at 21 per cent and hydromorphone at five per cent.

Smoking continues to be the most-common mode of consumption at 68 per cent, followed by nasal insufflation at 11 per cent, injection at eight per cent and oral at three per cent.