New data surround tainted drug deaths in the province in April has been released by the BC Coroners Service. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

toxic supply

Central Vancouver Island second in province for toxic drug deaths in April

Jun 24, 2025 | 3:06 PM

NANAIMO — Five people lost their lives to toxic drugs in Nanaimo in April, as the total number of deaths related to the unregulated drug supply starts to increase once again after declining.

This brings the total number of deaths in Nanaimo so far this year to 16.

Across Vancouver Island, 33 people died in April, with 19 of those deaths occurring within the vast Central region, encompassing the width of Vancouver Island from the Malahat to Cumberland.

The Central region was the second highest for deaths per health service delivery area, behind only Vancouver, according to BC Coroners Service data (BCCS).

Province-wide, there were 165 suspected unregulated drug deaths, equating to about 5.5 deaths per day, according to the B.C. Corners Service’s latest report.

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This is the first time in six months the number of deaths across B.C. has been over 160, with the highest numbers coming from Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria regions.

So far this year, 78 per cent of tainted drug deaths occurred inside dwellings, with 77 per cent being males between 30 and 59-years-old.

Fentanyl was once again found to be the most common substance detected, found in 68 per cent of toxicological testing, followed by methamphetamine (51 per cent) and cocaine (48 per cent).

Since the toxic drug deaths was declared as a public health emergency in B.C. in April 2016, over 16,000 deaths have been attributed to tainted drugs.

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