The number of people dying due to toxic street drugs continues to decline, with the trades, transport, and equipment operators noted as the most affected by industry. (Dreamstime)

By Jordan Davidson

trending downward

Trades recording highest level of toxic drug deaths as Nanaimo fatalities continue to decline

Dec 3, 2025 | 11:05 AM

NANAIMO — British Columbians continue to die due to toxic street drugs, but the numbers continue to decrease, while the trade industry has some of the highest rates of death per industry.

According to the latest report from the BC Coroners Service, four people from Nanaimo died due to unregulated street drugs in October, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 57.

Twenty-nine deaths occurred across Vancouver Island including twelve from the central Island region.

So far this year, 286 people from Vancouver Island have lost their lives to drug toxicity and overdose.

Fatalities recorded this year pace well below grim records set in 2023 of 114 fatalities in Nanaimo and 217 across the central Island.

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A new “occupation industry page” was added to the Coroners Service online dashboard, with trades, transport, and equipment operators (21 per cent) the most common occupation among toxic drug deaths, followed by sales and service at 10 per cent, among deaths where the occupation was known.

A graph showing the rates of unregulated drug deaths across B.C. has been steadily declining in the last few years. (BC Coroners Service)

Across the province, 150 people died in October, equating to about 4.8 deaths per day.

The presence of stimulants found during toxicology reports has increased to over 90 per cent in October, compared to about 80 per cent for the same month last year.

Of those deaths in October, 70 per cent were between the ages of 30 and 59, and 77 per cent were male.

Almost half, 48 per cent, of the deaths occurred in a private residence, with only 21 per cent occurring outdoors.

Fentanyl and its analogues were the most common substances found during toxicology testing, present in 69 per cent of all toxic drug deaths so far this year.

From January to October, 1,238 people died from toxic drugs in B.C., compared to 1,997 deaths at this time last year.

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