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Toxic drug deaths, last 12 months

Area: South Vancouver Island compared with Comparison area: All of B.C. Comparison area: Vancouver Island (Island Health) 12 months to September 2026

124 in 12 months

About the same this year (−0.8%, within ±5%). 10.1% Better over 5 years.

Down 0.8% from the previous 12 months (Oct 2024–Sep 2025). Down 10% since the 12 months to Sep 2021. Year to date (Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary): 88, against 91 in Jan–Sep 2025, about the same.

Who decides what

Main decision-maker: Province of B.C. · 2 other bodies Show all
Who decides what: Toxic drug deaths, last 12 months
BodyWhat it decidesLaw or bylaw
Province of B.C.Sets provincial standards for health services and appoints Island Health’s board.Health Authorities Act, s. 3
Health Authorities Act, s. 4
Island HealthPlans and runs health services in the region: which services, which facilities and the programs that deliver them.Health Authorities Act, s. 5
Government of Canada and ParliamentMakes federal drug law and can exempt people, places or substances from it.Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, s. 56

Province: last general election October 19, 2024; next set for October 21, 2028 unless called earlier (Constitution Act, s. 23). Canada: last general election April 28, 2025; next set for October 15, 2029 unless called earlier (Canada Elections Act, s. 56.1).

The first row is the main decision-maker. Each row says what a body decides and links to the law, order or bylaw that gives it that role. It does not say who caused a change: markets, households and other governments also move these numbers. Who decides what, for every measure · How we choose

Over time

Time range

Unregulated drug deaths, South Vancouver Island

2025 Deaths, by year

  • 127 deaths
Line chart, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. South Vancouver Island: starts at 140 deaths (2020), ends at 127 deaths (2025); highest 183 deaths (2023), lowest 127 deaths (2025). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.0100200 deaths202520232021Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251271401832020: South Vancouver Island: 140 deaths2021: South Vancouver Island: 141 deaths2022: South Vancouver Island: 173 deaths2023: South Vancouver Island: 183 deaths2024: South Vancouver Island: 171 deaths2025: South Vancouver Island: 127 deaths
Line chart, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. South Vancouver Island: starts at 140 deaths (2020), ends at 127 deaths (2025); highest 183 deaths (2023), lowest 127 deaths (2025). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.0100200 deaths202520242023202220212020Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251271401831711731412020: South Vancouver Island: 140 deaths2021: South Vancouver Island: 141 deaths2022: South Vancouver Island: 173 deaths2023: South Vancouver Island: 183 deaths2024: South Vancouver Island: 171 deaths2025: South Vancouver Island: 127 deaths

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year. Full calendar years. Latest 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026): 124. 2026 so far (Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary): 88.

P provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

Ticks on the top edge mark general election days for the governments listed under “Who decides what”; the main decision-maker’s are shown first. Results often lag decisions by years. About these ticks

Unregulated drug deaths, South Vancouver Island

2025 Deaths, by year

  • 127 deaths
Line chart, 11 periods from 2015 to 2025. South Vancouver Island: starts at 26 deaths (2015), ends at 127 deaths (2025); highest 183 deaths (2023), lowest 26 deaths (2015). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.0100200 deaths2025202220192016Federal election, Oct 19, 2015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251272015: South Vancouver Island: 26 deaths2016: South Vancouver Island: 78 deaths2017: South Vancouver Island: 105 deaths2018: South Vancouver Island: 125 deaths2019: South Vancouver Island: 75 deaths2020: South Vancouver Island: 140 deaths2021: South Vancouver Island: 141 deaths2022: South Vancouver Island: 173 deaths2023: South Vancouver Island: 183 deaths2024: South Vancouver Island: 171 deaths2025: South Vancouver Island: 127 deaths
Line chart, 11 periods from 2015 to 2025. South Vancouver Island: starts at 26 deaths (2015), ends at 127 deaths (2025); highest 183 deaths (2023), lowest 26 deaths (2015). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.0100200 deaths202520232021201920172015Federal election, Oct 19, 2015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251272618317117314114075125105782015: South Vancouver Island: 26 deaths2016: South Vancouver Island: 78 deaths2017: South Vancouver Island: 105 deaths2018: South Vancouver Island: 125 deaths2019: South Vancouver Island: 75 deaths2020: South Vancouver Island: 140 deaths2021: South Vancouver Island: 141 deaths2022: South Vancouver Island: 173 deaths2023: South Vancouver Island: 183 deaths2024: South Vancouver Island: 171 deaths2025: South Vancouver Island: 127 deaths

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year. Full calendar years. Latest 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026): 124. 2026 so far (Jan–Sep 2026, preliminary): 88.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

Ticks on the top edge mark general election days for the governments listed under “Who decides what”; the main decision-maker’s are shown first. Results often lag decisions by years. About these ticks

More charts (3)

All of B.C., for context

2025 Deaths, by year

  • 1,832 deaths
Line chart, 11 periods from 2015 to 2025. All of B.C.: starts at 528 deaths (2015), ends at 1,832 deaths (2025); highest 2,591 deaths (2023), lowest 528 deaths (2015). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 deaths202520212017Federal election, Oct 19, 2015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251,8322015: All of B.C.: 528 deaths2016: All of B.C.: 997 deaths2017: All of B.C.: 1,494 deaths2018: All of B.C.: 1,566 deaths2019: All of B.C.: 992 deaths2020: All of B.C.: 1,774 deaths2021: All of B.C.: 2,289 deaths2022: All of B.C.: 2,381 deaths2023: All of B.C.: 2,591 deaths2024: All of B.C.: 2,324 deaths2025: All of B.C.: 1,832 deaths
Line chart, 11 periods from 2015 to 2025. All of B.C.: starts at 528 deaths (2015), ends at 1,832 deaths (2025); highest 2,591 deaths (2023), lowest 528 deaths (2015). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 deaths202520232021201920172015Federal election, Oct 19, 2015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251,8325282,5912,3812,2899921,5662015: All of B.C.: 528 deaths2016: All of B.C.: 997 deaths2017: All of B.C.: 1,494 deaths2018: All of B.C.: 1,566 deaths2019: All of B.C.: 992 deaths2020: All of B.C.: 1,774 deaths2021: All of B.C.: 2,289 deaths2022: All of B.C.: 2,381 deaths2023: All of B.C.: 2,591 deaths2024: All of B.C.: 2,324 deaths2025: All of B.C.: 1,832 deaths

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Oct 19, 2015; Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

Ticks on the top edge mark general election days for the governments listed under “Who decides what”; the main decision-maker’s are shown first. Results often lag decisions by years. About these ticks

Toxic drug deaths in B.C., national series (deaths in the calendar year)

2025 Deaths, by year

  • 1,855 deaths
Line chart, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): starts at 807 deaths (2016), ends at 1,855 deaths (2025); highest 2,293 deaths (2023), lowest 807 deaths (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 deaths2025202220192016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251,8558072,2932016: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 807 deaths2017: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,300 deaths2018: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,401 deaths2019: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 903 deaths2020: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,563 deaths2021: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,033 deaths2022: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,112 deaths2023: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,293 deaths2024: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,025 deaths2025: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,855 deaths
Line chart, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): starts at 807 deaths (2016), ends at 1,855 deaths (2025); highest 2,293 deaths (2023), lowest 807 deaths (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 deaths2025202420232022202120202019201820172016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20251,8558072,2932,0252,1122,0339031,4011,3002016: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 807 deaths2017: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,300 deaths2018: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,401 deaths2019: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 903 deaths2020: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,563 deaths2021: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,033 deaths2022: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,112 deaths2023: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,293 deaths2024: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 2,025 deaths2025: British Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data): 1,855 deaths

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

Ticks on the top edge mark general election days for the governments listed under “Who decides what”; the main decision-maker’s are shown first. Results often lag decisions by years. About these ticks

Toxic drug deaths per 100,000 people (Public Health Agency of Canada series)

2025 Per 100,000, by year

  • All of B.C. 32.6 per 100,000
  • All of Canada 13.7 per 100,000
Line chart of 2 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. All of B.C.: starts at 16.6 per 100,000 (2016), ends at 32.6 per 100,000 (2025); highest 41.6 per 100,000 (2023), lowest 16.6 per 100,000 (2016). All of Canada: starts at 7.8 per 100,000 (2016), ends at 13.7 per 100,000 (2025); highest 20.2 per 100,000 (2023), lowest 7.8 per 100,000 (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.02040602025202220192016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20252016: All of B.C.: 16.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 7.8 per 100,0002017: All of B.C.: 26.3 per 100,000; All of Canada: 10.7 per 100,0002018: All of B.C.: 27.9 per 100,000; All of Canada: 11.5 per 100,0002019: All of B.C.: 17.7 per 100,000; All of Canada: 9.6 per 100,0002020: All of B.C.: 30.2 per 100,000; All of Canada: 16.3 per 100,0002021: All of B.C.: 38.9 per 100,000; All of Canada: 19.9 per 100,0002022: All of B.C.: 39.4 per 100,000; All of Canada: 18.7 per 100,0002023: All of B.C.: 41.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 20.2 per 100,0002024: All of B.C.: 35.7 per 100,000; All of Canada: 16.2 per 100,0002025: All of B.C.: 32.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 13.7 per 100,000
Line chart of 2 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. All of B.C.: starts at 16.6 per 100,000 (2016), ends at 32.6 per 100,000 (2025); highest 41.6 per 100,000 (2023), lowest 16.6 per 100,000 (2016). All of Canada: starts at 7.8 per 100,000 (2016), ends at 13.7 per 100,000 (2025); highest 20.2 per 100,000 (2023), lowest 7.8 per 100,000 (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.020406020252023202120192017Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 2025All of B.C. 32.6All of Canada13.72016: All of B.C.: 16.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 7.8 per 100,0002017: All of B.C.: 26.3 per 100,000; All of Canada: 10.7 per 100,0002018: All of B.C.: 27.9 per 100,000; All of Canada: 11.5 per 100,0002019: All of B.C.: 17.7 per 100,000; All of Canada: 9.6 per 100,0002020: All of B.C.: 30.2 per 100,000; All of Canada: 16.3 per 100,0002021: All of B.C.: 38.9 per 100,000; All of Canada: 19.9 per 100,0002022: All of B.C.: 39.4 per 100,000; All of Canada: 18.7 per 100,0002023: All of B.C.: 41.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 20.2 per 100,0002024: All of B.C.: 35.7 per 100,000; All of Canada: 16.2 per 100,0002025: All of B.C.: 32.6 per 100,000; All of Canada: 13.7 per 100,000

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

Ticks on the top edge mark general election days for the governments listed under “Who decides what”; the main decision-maker’s are shown first. Results often lag decisions by years. About these ticks

Show the numbers as a table
Unregulated drug deaths, South Vancouver Island (newest first)
PeriodSouth Vancouver Island
2025127
2024171
2023183
2022173
2021141
2020140
201975
2018125
2017105
201678
201526
All of B.C., for context (newest first)
PeriodAll of B.C.
20251,832
20242,324
20232,591
20222,381
20212,289
20201,774
2019992
20181,566
20171,494
2016997
2015528
Toxic drug deaths in B.C., national series (deaths in the calendar year) (newest first)
PeriodBritish Columbia (province-wide; not available for Victoria or Island Health as open data)
20251,855
20242,025
20232,293
20222,112
20212,033
20201,563
2019903
20181,401
20171,300
2016807
Toxic drug deaths per 100,000 people (Public Health Agency of Canada series) (newest first)
PeriodAll of B.C.All of Canada
202532.613.7
202435.716.2
202341.620.2
202239.418.7
202138.919.9
202030.216.3
201917.79.6
201827.911.5
201726.310.7
201616.67.8

In plain words

The number of people who died from unregulated (toxic) drugs in the latest 12 months in the South Vancouver Island health service delivery area (the Greater Victoria, Western Communities, Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands local health areas), as counted by the BC Coroners Service by where the drugs were used, compared with the 12 months before. The year so far is shown as preliminary, and all of B.C. for context.

How we decide “About the same this year. Better over 5 years.”

The change is 0.8% of the earlier value, below the 5% threshold. Over 5 years (since 12 months to September 2021) the change is 10.1% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold, so the label also says Better over 5 years.

A lower number means fewer people died from unregulated drugs. South Vancouver Island: 124 deaths in the 12 months Oct 2025–Sep 2026, compared with 125 in the 12 months before (-0.8%). Year to date, preliminary: 88 from January to September 2026, compared with 91 in the same months of 2025 (-3.3%). Calendar years: 127 in 2025 compared with 171 in 2024 (-25.7%), 27.4 per 100,000 people (was 37.1). All of B.C., for context: 1,832 in 2025 compared with 2,324 in 2024 (-21.2%), 32.2 per 100,000 (was 41.0). Island Health: 344 compared with 463.

Outcome measures read Better, Worse or About the same; published government targets read Ahead of, On or Behind target; value-judgement measures read Rising, Falling or Steady in a neutral colour. A change smaller than the agency's own margin of error, or otherwise smaller than 5% of the earlier value, is About the same (or Steady). No change is calculated across a marked break in a series. The rule.

Keep in mind

Why it matters. Toxic drug deaths are one of the most serious public health emergencies in the province. South Vancouver Island is the smallest area around Victoria for which the Coroners Service publishes the count with a rate per 100,000 people.

  • South Vancouver Island is one of the Province's health service delivery areas. It covers the Greater Victoria, Western Communities, Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands local health areas, as listed in the Province's boundary file.
  • These are the BC Coroners Service's own counts of deaths from unregulated drugs (all substances, accidental and undetermined deaths), using one definition for every year shown.
  • Preliminary: the Coroners Service works in a live database. Recent years change as investigations close, and its counts for a past year can differ from figures it published earlier.
  • Counted by where the injury happened (where the drugs were used), not where the person lived.
  • The headline is the latest 12 months (Oct 2025–Sep 2026) against the 12 months before. The year to date (January to September 2026) is shown underneath as preliminary. Rates per 100,000 are for calendar year 2025, the Coroners Service's own figures: South Vancouver Island 27.4, Island Health 37.1, B.C. 32.2.
  • Public but not under an open licence: the Coroners Service publishes these figures only in its dashboard, not as a data file.
  • Where the earlier months come from: the dashboard's Monthly view shows only the latest 13 months (Sep 2025 to Sep 2026). The 12 months to Sep 2025 (125) and to Sep 2021 (138) are added up from the dashboard's own monthly table for South Vancouver Island, the data behind that view, read by script through the dashboard's public data connection. Every month is in this page's CSV with the time it was read. For every full year, the months add up to the yearly figure the dashboard shows.
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada publishes a different B.C. series built from the same coroner data (opioid deaths with completed investigations up to 2024). Its definition changed in 2025, so its numbers differ. It is shown on a separate page.

A better measure

What
Local tables as a file, monthly, with history
Who could publish it
BC Coroners Service
Status
Not published as data. Not asked for yet.

This page uses the best public number we found. Data requests

Also on this page

  • Toxic drug deaths in B.C., national series: 1,855 deaths in the calendar year (Calendar year 2025)
  • Toxic drug death rate, B.C. vs Canada: 32.6 deaths per 100,000 people, B.C. (Calendar year 2025)

These were separate pages. Their charts are above, and their old addresses lead here.

Which places

Area: South Vancouver Island

The Province’s South Vancouver Island health service delivery area, one of three in Island Health.

Included

  • The Greater Victoria, Western Communities, Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands local health areas (the Province’s local health area boundaries)

Not included

  • Central and North Vancouver Island (the other Island Health service delivery areas)
  • Deaths are counted by where the drugs were used, not where the person lived

Official definition

Shown for comparison

  • Comparison area: All of B.C. The whole province of British Columbia.
  • Comparison area: Vancouver Island (Island Health) Island Health’s whole service area: Vancouver Island and surrounding communities, not only Greater Victoria.

How the agency describes it: South Vancouver Island health service delivery area (Greater Victoria, Western Communities, Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands local health areas), by place of injury; all of B.C. shown for context.

How we got it

This number is published by the agency as shown; it is not calculated here. The script reads it from the agency’s own document and refuses to show it unless the expected text is found.

For context

  • All of B.C.: 1,832 deaths (Calendar year 2025). 32.2 per 100,000 people (was 41.0 in 2024). 2026 to the end of September: 1,143.
  • Island Health: 344 deaths (Calendar year 2025). 37.1 per 100,000 people (was 50.3 in 2024). 2026 to the end of September: 232.

Licence and credits

This figure is public but not under an open licence: the agency publishes it for anyone to read, and it is shown here with credit and a link to the agency’s terms. About licences.

Licence
Public data, not under an open licence. Used with attribution. Agency’s terms of use
Updated by agency
Monthly (dashboard updated about six weeks after each month); latest release Oct 27, 2026
Retrieved
Nov 11, 2026, 6:57 PM B.C. time

Read from the Coroners Service's public dashboard. The figures are not offered as an open data file.

Related measures

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