Toxic drug deaths in April increase in B.C. and Island Health – From Chek News – Read the source article here – by Laura Brougham
The number of toxic drug deaths in B.C. and Island Health saw an increase in April, with the provincial deaths rising above 160 for the first time in six months, according to the latest data from the B.C. Coroners Service.
Between October 2024 and March 2025, the number of monthly deaths had dropped below 160 per month. The last time deaths were below 160 was in June 2022 and September 2020, and only for a month each.
Otherwise, monthly deaths have been above 160 per month since May 2020.
In April 2025, 165 people died due to a suspected toxic drug poisoning, a total of 594 in 2025.
April also marked the ninth anniversary of B.C. declaring a public health emergency due to the toxic drug crisis.
READ ALSO: Somber rally marks 9 years of B.C.’s toxic drug crisis public health emergency
Island Health also saw a spike in deaths, with 33 suspected toxic drug poisonings in April, up from 19 in March.
March was the only month in the past year with fewer than 20 deaths in one month.
A total of 102 people have died due to toxic drugs in Island Health in 2025.
Most of the deaths in Island Health occurred in the Central Vancouver Island region, with 19 people dying.
South Vancouver Island had eight deaths, and six people died on North Vancouver Island.
Greater Victoria has had the highest number of deaths in 2025, with 27 people dying. Followed by Greater Nanaimo with 19 deaths, and Cowichan Valley South with 14.
In March, there were 99,036 visits to overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites across the province, of which, 23,667 were in Island Health, according to BCCDC data.
In B.C. there were 165 overdoses attended to at the sites, and 30 in Island Health. There continues to only have been one death at a supervised consumption site, which occurred in 2022.
READ PREVIOUS: 48 people die from toxic drug supply in Island Health, 275 in B.C. for February and March
The BC Greens are calling for action to be taken to address the spike in the number of deaths.
“Behind every number is a person, and behind every life lost is a community left to grieve,” said interim leader for the BC Greens Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
“Our hearts are with every person taken too soon due to the toxic drug crisis, and with their loved ones who now carry that unimaginable loss.”
Actions the party is calling on the government to take include a regulated alternative to the toxic drug supply, low-barrier supervised consumption sites, evidence-based and timely care for treatment, housing for all and treating drug users with respect and dignity
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