48 people die from toxic drug supply in Island Health, 275 in B.C. for February and March

by Laura Brougham, Chek News, May 14, 2025 – Read the Source Article –

In February and March, 275 people died due to the toxic drug supply in B.C., of which 48 were in Island Health, according to the latest data from the B.C. Coroner Service.

In February, 132 people died, equating to 4.7 deaths per day, then in March 143 people died, equating to 4.6 per day.

In Island Health, 29 people died in February and 19 in March.

So far in 2025, Central Vancouver Island has seen the highest number of deaths, with 29, and South Vancouver Island has had 28. North Vancouver Island has had 12 deaths this year.

In February 2025, there were 89,204 visits to overdose prevention services sites and supervised consumption sites in the province, 21,001 of which were in Island Health, according to BC Centre of Disease Control data.

At these sites, staff attended to 191 overdoses across the province, including 38 in Island Health.

There continues to only have been one death at these sites, which occurred in 2022.

So far in 2025, 45 per cent of overdoses occurred in private residences, 34 per cent in other residences, and 20 per cent outside.

BC Coroners Service data shows that smoking was the most common method of consumption in the fatal overdoses, making up 62 per cent of deaths, followed by nasal insufflation and injection both at 11 per cent, and oral at five per cent.