B.C. drug deaths rebound from May to June, but still down sharply from peak

Drug deaths in British Columbia have risen slightly from May to June, but remain significantly lower than their peak three years ago. In June, there were 138 deaths, a 25 per cent increase from 110 deaths in May, but a 33 per cent decrease from June 2023. The BC Coroners Service recorded 776 total deaths in the first half of 2026, a 40 per cent reduction from the same period three years prior, consistent with nationwide trends.

The Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities reported the highest numbers of drug-related deaths, accounting for over half of all cases. The most commonly identified drug in June's cases was fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid closely related to fentanyl, found in 67 per cent of all fatalities.