The downward trend of drug toxicity deaths in B.C. for 2025 continued in February and March, with 9 people dying in Nanaimo in those two months. (Dreamstime)

By Jordan Davidson

drug toxicity

Nanaimo records nine drug toxicity deaths in February and March

May 15, 2025 | 10:46 AM

NANAIMO — The number of people in the region dying due to toxic drugs continues to decline, with the trend being seen across Vancouver Island and B.C.

The BC Coroners Service said in their latest report nine people died from illicit toxic drugs in Nanaimo in February and March, among 21 deaths across the central Vancouver Island region, encompassing the width of Vancouver Island from the Malahat to Cumberland.

Forty-eight people lost their lives over the two months throughout all of Island Health, with southern Vancouver Island seeing 20 deaths, and seven in the northern parts of the island.

By comparison, 48 people died on Vancouver Island, in connection to drug toxicity in March 2024 alone.

Province-wide, there were 132 and 143 suspected deaths from unregulated drugs in February and March, equating to about 4.7 and 4.6 deaths per day, respectively.

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The service says those numbers are down by 33 per cent (March) and 35 per cent (February) compared to last year.

In January, 152 people died from unregulated toxic drugs, continuing this year’s downward trend of toxic drug deaths.

March marks the sixth consecutive month in which the number of deaths attributed to unregulated drug toxicity was below 160, according to the report.

Once again, the vast majority who have died this year are between the ages of 30 to 59 (67 per cent), with 76 per cent being male, and 79 per cent of all deaths occurring inside.

It breaks down to 45 per cent occurring in private homes and 34 per cent in other residences, including social and supportive housing, shelters, and hotels.

Fentanyl and its analogues continue to be the most common drugs found during toxicology testing in those who have died from toxic drugs, detected in 70 per cent of cases this year.

The highest number of deaths occurred in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities, with 141 and 114 deaths respectively, which makes up 60 per cent of all such deaths for 2025.

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