Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 – May 31, 2020
This report summarizes all unintentional illicit drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia (accidental
and undetermined) that occurred between January 1, 2010, and May 31, 2020, inclusive. It includes
confirmed and suspected illicit toxicity deaths (inclusion criteria below). Please note that data is
subject to change as investigations are concluded.1
Inclusion Criteria: The illicit drug toxicity category includes the following:
•
•
•

Street drugs (Controlled and illegal drugs: heroin, cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine,
illicit fentanyl etc.).
Medications not prescribed to the decedent but obtained/purchased on the street, from
unknown means or where origin of drug not known.
Combinations of the above with prescribed medications.

Note: 2020 data is up to the month of May. Due to the short time frame, rates, numbers and percentages
should be interpreted with caution and are subject to change as investigations are completed.

2020 Summary
•

In May 2020, there were 170 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths. This represent a 93%
increase over the number of deaths seen in May 2019 (88) and a 44% increase over the
number of deaths in April 2020 (118).

•

The May 2020 total represents the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths ever
recorded in a month in B.C.

•

The number of deaths in each health authority is at or near the highest monthly total ever
recorded; however, Island Health has surpassed its highest number by 36% (38 deaths in
May; previous high was 28 deaths in Jan and Mar 2018).

•

The number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in May 2020 equates to about 5.5 deaths per day.
The number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2020 equates to 3.6 deaths per day for the year.

•

Postmortem toxicology results suggest that there has been a greater number of cases with
extreme fentanyl concentrations in May compared with previous months (concentrations
exceeded >50ug/L (micrograms/litre). From April-May2020, approximately 19% of cases
had extreme fentanyl concentrations as compared to 9% from Jan 2019 to March 2020.

•

In 2020, 70% of those dying were aged 19 to 49. In 2019 and 2018, 67% were in this age
range. Males accounted for 80% of deaths in 2020 to date, slightly higher than in 2019
(76%) and consistent with 2018 (80%).

•

The townships experiencing the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2020 are
Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria.

Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

Posting Date June 11, 2020
Page 1 of 21

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Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

•

Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority have had the highest number of illicit drug
toxicity deaths (176 and 151 deaths, respectively) in 2020, making up 59% of all such deaths
during this period.

•

Northern Health Authority has the highest rate of illicit drug toxicity deaths (32 deaths per
100,000 individuals) followed by Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (29 deaths per 100,000
individuals) in 2020. Overall, the rate in BC was 26 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2020.

•

Rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest in Vancouver, Northeast, Thompson Cariboo,
Northern Interior, and South Vancouver Island Health Services Delivery Areas in 2020.

•

By local health area, the rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest in Hope, Vancouver,
Revelstoke, Keremeos, and North Thompson from 2018 to 2020.

•

In 2020, 85% of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred inside (57% in private residences and
28% in other residences including social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters, and hotels
and other indoor locations) and 13% occurred outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, parks,
etc.

•

There was no significant change in location of death in Apr-May 2020 compared to Jan-Mar
2020, 56% of illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred in private residence, 26% occurred in other
residences, 15% occurred outside, and 1% occurred in other inside locations.

•

In Vancouver Coastal, other residences (48%) were the most common place of illicit drug
toxicity deaths followed by private residences (37%) between 2017 and 2020.

•

No deaths have been reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention
sites.2

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 2 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

1800

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Figure 1: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths and Death Rate per 100,000 Population [3,5]

1600

35
30
25

Deaths

1200
1000

20

800

15

600

10

400
5

200
0

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20

Deaths 308 217 301 300 400 272 236 236 172 190 183 230 229 202 183 201 211 295 270 334 369 529 991 14951546 979 554
Rate

8.4 5.7 7.8 7.6 10.0 6.8 5.8 5.8 4.2 4.6 4.4 5.5 5.4 4.7 4.2 4.6 4.7 6.6 5.9 7.2 7.8 11.1 20.4 30.4 31.0 19.4 26.0

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 3 of 22

0

Death Rate per 100,000 Pop.

1400

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Table 1: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Month, British Columbia, 2010-2020[3]
Month

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Subtotal
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total
Average

16
14
15
9
22
76
21
23
24
20
18
18
11
211
17.6

24
24
25
27
22
122
22
33
22
22
23
27
24
295
24.6

20
17
25
31
19
112
25
29
20
16
19
28
21
270
22.5

20
21
33
31
28
133
25
39
21
28
19
31
38
334
27.8

23
38
28
29
40
158
29
25
37
32
35
28
25
369
30.8

43
31
32
34
41
181
34
40
53
50
53
52
66
529
44.1

85
58
76
72
51
342
71
74
64
63
76
140
161
991
82.6

147
125
130
154
149
705
128
123
127
97
99
112
104
1,495
124.6

134
108
157
136
118
653
116
147
123
135
118
132
122
1,546
128.8

94
83
117
85
88
467
76
74
85
57
74
78
68
979
81.6

77
76
113
118
170
554
554
110.8

Comparison to Other Common Causes of Unnatural Deaths from 2010 to 2019:

Figure 2: Major Causes of Unnatural Deaths in BC
1800
1600
1400

Deaths

1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2010

2011

Illicit Drug

2012
Suicide

2013

2014

2015

Motor vehicle incident

2016
Homicide

2017

2018

2019

Prescription Drug

*Prescription drug toxicity deaths (accidental and undetermined) include cases where only a prescription drug is involved and reported for
closed investigations only to 2018.

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 4 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

BC Data by Place of Injury
Table 2: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Place of Injury, BC, 2017-2020[3]

Inside:
Private Residence
Other Residence
Correctional facility/police cell
Medical facility
Occupational site
Public building
Public washroom
Other area of building
Outside
Unknown
Total

2017

2018

2019

2020

899 (60.1%)
366 (24.5%)
3 (0.2%)
2 (0.1%)
10 (0.7%)

920 (59.5%)
372 (24.1%)
6 (0.4%)
5 (0.3%)
6 (0.4%)

559 (57.1%)
258 (26.4%)
4 (0.4%)
5 (0.5%)
6 (0.6%)

317 (57.2%)
140 (25.3%)
2 (0.4%)
2 (0.4%)
2 (0.4%)

26 (1.7%)
7 (0.5%)
177 (11.8%)
5 (0.3%)
1,495

23 (1.5%)
12 (0.8%)
193 (12.5%)
9 (0.6%)
1,546

11 (1.1%)
8 (0.8%)
118 (12.1%)
10 (1.0%)
979

2 (0.4%)
6 (1.1%)
70 (12.6%)
13 (2.4%)
554

Table 3: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Place of Injury and Health Authority, BC, 2017-2020[3]

Interior
Inside:
Private Residence
Other Residence
Other Inside
Outside
Unknown
Total

Fraser

465 (65.7%) 1,099 (72.5%)
123 (17.4%) 167 (11.0%)
25 (3.5%)
58 (3.8%)
93 (13.1%)
178 (11.7%)
2 (0.3%)
15 (1.0%)
708
1,517

Vancouver
Coastal

Vancouver
Island

Northern

487 (36.6%)
639 (48.1%)
36 (2.7%)
157 (11.8%)
11 (0.8%)
1,330

456 (61.2%)
162 (21.7%)
17 (2.3%)
101 (13.6%)
9 (1.2%)
745

188 (69.1%)
45 (16.5%)
10 (3.7%)
29 (10.7%)
0
272

Private Residence – includes driveways garages, trailer homes and either decedent’s own or another’s
residence.
Other Residence – includes hotels, motels, rooming houses, SRO (single room occupancy, shelters,
social/supportive housing etc.)
Medical facility – includes hospitals, community care facilities, etc
Occupational site – includes locations where the decedent was at their place of work.
Public buildings – includes restaurants, community centres, businesses, clinics, etc.
Outside – includes vehicles, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, public parks, wooded areas, and campgrounds

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 5 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

BC Data by Day of Week:
Table 4: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Day of Week of Injury, British Columbia, 2010-2020[3,4]
Day

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total

29
26
30
33
33
35
25
211

39
27
35
51
43
53
47
295

32
35
37
34
33
46
53
270

33
42
36
41
59
71
52
334

38
37
49
60
60
72
53
369

67
65
69
78
77
89
84
529

104
116
132
154
140
185
160
991

181
175
201
217
259
233
229
1,495

209
199
202
233
237
250
216
1,546

104
126
131
161
141
164
152
979

76
66
75
87
80
89
81
554

Income Assistance Week:
Table 5: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths per day by Income Assistance Payment Week,
2019-2020[3,4]
Income
Assistance
Payment Week
(Wed-Sun)
All other days of
the month
Total
•

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Avg

3.0

4.2

4.2

2.2

3.0

2.6

3.2

2.8

3.4

6.6

3.2

7.2

3.8

2.4

2.0

2.5

1.8

2.3

2.6

2.0

2.4

2.5

3.1

4.1

5.2

2.7

2.5

2.4

2.7

1.9

2.4

2.6

2.2

2.5

2.6

3.6

3.9

5.5

2.9

More illicit drug toxicity deaths occurred during the days following income assistance
payment (Wed-Sun) than all other days in 2019-20. Income assistance payment dates can
be found at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/incomeassistance/payment-dates.

Posting Date June 11, 2020

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Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

BC Data by Drugs Involved:
•

Preliminary data suggests that the proportion of illicit drug toxicity deaths for which illicit
fentanyl was detected (alone or in combination with other drugs) was approximately 71% in
2020 and 85% in 2019. 2020 data will change as further toxicology results are received.

•

Postmortem toxicology results suggest that there has been a greater number of cases with
extreme fentanyl concentrations in May compared with previous months (concentrations
exceeded >50ug/L (micrograms/litre). From April-May2020, approximately 19% of cases
had extreme fentanyl concentrations as compared to 9% from Jan 2019 to March 2020.

•

Carfentanil has been detected in 133 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2019 and 6
deaths in 2020. In 2019, 103 of those 133 carfentanil-detected deaths occurred in the first
five months of the year. This is subject to change as further toxicology results are received.

•

A review of completed cases from 2016-19 indicates that the top four detected drugs
relevant to illicit drug toxicity deaths were fentanyl (83%), cocaine (50%),
methamphetamine/amphetamine (34%), and heroin (15%).

•

Among the drug types involved in illicit drug toxicity deaths, illicit fentanyl has increased
from 5% in 2012 to 90% in 2019. Methamphetamine has also increased from 14% in 2012 to
37% in 2019. Cocaine, heroin, and other opioids have steadily declined from 2012 to 2019;
however, cocaine remains involved in 50% of illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2019.

Table 6: Top Drugs Involved Among Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths, 2016-19
Drug Detected

BC (n=3,721)

Illicit fentanyl & analogues

82.8%

Cocaine

50.0%

Methamphetamine/amphetamine

33.6%

Ethyl alcohol

27.7%

Heroin

15.2%

Other opioids

17.6%

Methadone

6.7%

Other drugs

16.2%

Notes:
Drugs involved are noted by the coroner as being relevant to the death (this data is only available for concluded investigations). Data does not
indicate when a substance was taken.
6-monoacetyl morphine (heroin) is unstable in biological fluids and can degrade during storage; therefore, the occurrence of heroin in cases
may be underestimated. As deaths could involve multiple drugs, percentages can add up to more than 100%.
Fentanyl & analogues includes fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, 3-methylfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, carfentanil, cyclopropyl fentanyl,
methoxyacetylfentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, and norfentanyl. Meth/amph includes methamphetamine and amphetamine. Other
opioids include codeine, oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphine etc but excludes heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methadone. Other
drug includes benzodiazepines & Z-drugs, antidepressants, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, MDMA/MDA, cannabinoids, over-the-counter drugs,
and other drugs not listed.

Posting Date June 11, 2020

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Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Figure 3: Drug Types Relevant to Death, 2012-2019
100
90
80

Percent of Death

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2012
Fentanyl

Posting Date June 11, 2020

2013
Cocaine

2014

2015
Meth/amph

2016
Heroin

2017
Alcohol

2018

2019
Other opioids

Page 8 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

BC Data by Gender/Age:
Table 7: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Gender, 2010-2020[3]
Gender

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Female
Male
Unknown
Total

49
162
0
211

82
213
0
295

76
194
0
270

79
255
0
334

86
283
0
369

106
423
0
529

199
792
0
991

271
1,223
1
1,495

313
1,233
0
1,546

232
747
0
979

112
442
0
554

2019
13
173
273
215
212
90
3
979

2020
6
116
140
134
110
46
2
554

Table 8: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Age Group, 2010-2020[3]
Age Group

<19
19-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
Total

2010
4
40
49
66
45
7
0
211

2011
4
75
75
77
54
10
0
295

Posting Date June 11, 2020

2012
5
61
61
67
56
19
1
270

2013
6
94
77
74
62
21
0
334

2014
3
83
101
85
73
24
0
369

2015
5
117
137
130
110
29
1
529

2016
12
204
261
232
229
50
3
991

2017
25
274
400
355
313
121
7
1,495

2018
18
301
399
342
355
123
8
1,546

Page 9 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Figure 4: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Age Group, 2010-2020
100%

3%

3%

21%

18%

7%

21%

80%

26%
60%

6%

7%

6%

5%

19%

20%

21%

23%

22%

31%

25%

23%

25%

9%

8%

9%

9%

21%

23%

22%

20%

22%

24%

60+
23%

24%

22%

50-59
40-49

40%

30-39

23%

25%

27%

23%

23%

26%

19-29

26%

27%

26%

28%

25%

<19

20%
25%

19%
2%

0%

2010

23%

1%
2011

28%
22%

22%

21%

18%

19%

18%

21%

2%

2%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

1%

1%

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Table 9: Age-Specific Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rates per 100,000, 2010-2020[3,5]
Age Group

<19
19-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
Total

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0.4
5.9
8.3
9.7
6.8
1.5
0.0
4.7

0.4
11.1
12.6
11.4
8.0
2.0
0.0
6.6

0.6
8.8
10.1
10.0
8.1
3.7
0.3
5.9

0.7
13.5
12.6
11.1
8.8
3.9
0.0
7.2

0.3
11.7
16.1
12.9
10.1
4.2
0.0
7.8

0.6
16.5
21.4
19.9
15.0
4.9
0.3
11.1

1.3
28.5
39.7
35.5
30.9
8.1
0.9
20.4

2.7
37.9
59.3
54.6
42.6
19.2
1.9
30.4

1.9
40.8
57.6
52.9
48.8
19.1
2.0
31.0

1.4
23.3
38.3
33.3
29.3
13.6
0.7
19.4

1.6
37.6
46.0
49.6
36.6
16.3
1.1
26.0

*2020 rates should be interpreted with caution due to small numbers.

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 10 of 22

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Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

BC Data by Township of Injury:
Table 10: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Top Townships of Injury in 2020, 2010-2020[3]
Township

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Vancouver
Surrey
Victoria
Kamloops
Kelowna
Burnaby
Langley
Prince George
Nanaimo
Abbotsford
Chilliwack

42
33
13
10
9
9
3
1
4
10
2
6
4
2
3
60
211

69
42
17
2
14
10
10
6
8
16
8
6
4
3
2
78
295

65
44
18
5
8
10
5
10
6
7
8
3
5
6
2
68
270

80
36
25
8
12
13
10
7
20
10
6
5
10
1
3
88
334

102
44
20
7
12
11
10
10
16
7
6
9
14
10
9
82
369

138
76
23
7
20
15
10
12
18
27
10
12
29
11
7
114
529

231
118
68
44
47
40
31
18
28
40
13
10
28
15
13
247
991

375
181
94
38
73
44
36
24
56
52
22
24
33
30
19
394
1,495

396
213
97
46
56
48
33
49
37
41
37
36
29
21
15
392
1,546

245
119
61
27
33
31
21
25
27
45
21
18
13
11
11
271
979

128
72
49
22
21
18
15
15
13
12
12
12
11
8
8
138
554

New Westminster

Maple Ridge
Coquitlam
North Vancouver
Other Township
Total

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 11 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Health Authority Data:
Table 11: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Health Authority, 2010-2020[3,6]
HA

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Interior
Fraser
Vancouver Coastal
Island
Northern
BC

37
86
52
23
13
211

38
115
81
45
16
295

31
104
72
45
18
270

54
106
95
60
19
334

47
126
120
55
21
369

64
208
160
72
25
529

168
334
276
161
52
991

246
493
448
242
66
1,495

234
521
450
242
99
1,546

139
327
282
164
67
979

89
176
151
98
40
554

Table 12: Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rates by Health Authority per 100,000, 2010-2020[3,5,6]
HA

Interior
Fraser
Vancouver Coastal
Island
Northern
BC

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

5.2
5.3
4.7
3.1
4.6
4.7

5.3
7.0
7.3
6.0
5.6
6.6

4.4
6.2
6.3
6.0
6.3
5.9

7.5
6.3
8.2
7.9
6.5
7.2

6.5
7.3
10.0
7.2
7.1
7.8

8.5
11.8
13.5
9.1
8.7
11.1

21.9
18.6
23.3
19.8
17.8
20.4

31.6
27.0
37.4
29.4
22.5
30.4

29.7
28.0
37.2
29.0
33.6
31.0

17.5
17.3
23.0
19.4
22.5
19.4

26.7
22.0
29.2
27.6
32.0
26.0

*2020 rates should be interpreted with caution due to small numbers.

Figure 5: Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rates by Health Authority, 20102020
45
40

Rate per 100,000

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2010

2011

Interior

Posting Date June 11, 2020

2012
Fraser

2013

2014

Vancouver Coastal

2015

2016

2017

Vancouver Island

2018

2019

Northern

2020
BC

Page 12 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Table 13: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Month of Death and Health Authority and Township,
2019-2020[3,6]

Year
2019

2020

Total
Average

Month Interior

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

11
11
24
9
13
4
12
10
10
10
10
15
10
18
16
21
24
228
13.4

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authorities
Vancouver Vancouver
Fraser
Coastal
Island

31
32
38
30
29
28
19
32
18
24
28
18
20
27
43
33
53
503
29.6

30
27
35
28
27
23
19
26
13
19
18
17
26
16
27
39
43
433
25.5

16
9
15
14
12
16
15
10
13
13
17
14
12
10
18
20
38
262
15.4

Township
Northern

Vancouver

Surrey

Victoria

6
4
5
4
7
5
9
7
3
8
5
4
9
5
9
5
12
107
6.3

24
23
33
25
24
20
17
21
12
15
17
14
23
14
21
32
38
373
21.9

10
14
14
10
10
13
8
5
12
9
7
7
9
10
15
15
23
191
11.2

5
2
7
4
6
5
5
3
6
6
6
6
6
3
9
10
21
110
6.5

Page 13 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Table 14: Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths by Health Services Delivery Area, 2010-2020[3,6]
HSDA

2010

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

East Kootenay
Kootenay Boundary
Okanagan
Thompson Cariboo
Fraser East
Fraser North
Fraser South
Richmond
Vancouver

0
3
18
16
22
26
38
4
42
6
13
6
4
3
7
3
211

1
4
28
5
31
25
59
4
69
8
17
17
11
1
8
7
295

7
6
17
14
155
129
67
85
105
98
148
151
240
272
28
12
375
396
45
42
105
122
100
90
37
30
8
14
35
61
23
24
1,495 1,546

0
13
84
42
86
87
154
13
245
24
73
62
29
16
34
17
979

7
6
38
38
29
53
94
5
128
18
54
32
12
5
23
12
554

North Shore/Coast Garibaldi

South Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Northwest
Northern Interior
Northeast
Total

Posting Date June 11, 2020

2
4
16
9
20
30
54
1
65
6
21
20
4
0
12
6
270

4
2
33
15
20
35
51
3
80
12
26
25
9
6
8
5
334

4
3
27
13
16
51
59
3
102
15
23
25
7
2
11
8
369

2
6
43
13
42
73
93
6
138
16
26
33
13
6
15
4
529

13
11
77
67
67
105
162
14
231
31
78
56
27
10
24
18
991

Page 14 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Table 15: Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rates by Health Services Delivery Area per 100,000,
2010-2020[3,5,6]
HSDA
East Kootenay
Kootenay Boundary
Okanagan
Thompson Cariboo
Fraser East
Fraser North
Fraser South
Richmond
Vancouver
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi

South Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Northwest
Northern Interior
Northeast
Total

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0.0
3.9
5.2
7.4
7.8
4.3
5.3
2.0
6.6
2.2
3.5
2.3
3.4
4.1
5.0
4.5
4.7

1.3
5.1
8.0
2.3
10.9
4.0
8.0
2.0
10.9
2.9
4.6
6.5
9.2
1.4
5.6
10.4
6.6

2.6
5.2
4.7
4.2
7.0
4.8
7.1
0.5
9.9
2.1
5.6
7.6
3.4
0.0
8.4
9.3
5.9

5.2
2.6
9.6
6.9
6.9
5.5
6.6
1.5
12.0
4.1
6.8
9.4
7.6
7.7
5.4
7.5
7.2

5.1
3.8
7.7
5.9
5.5
7.9
7.6
1.4
14.8
5.0
6.0
9.4
5.9
2.5
7.4
11.9
7.8

2.4
7.5
11.7
5.8
13.9
11.1
11.6
2.9
20.4
5.4
6.7
12.0
10.6
7.9
10.4
6.0
11.1

15.7
13.5
20.5
29.3
21.6
15.7
19.7
6.7
34.0
10.4
19.4
19.8
21.2
13.4
16.3
25.4
20.4

8.1
19.9
40.0
27.8
33.0
21.9
28.6
13.6
55.7
15.1
25.5
34.3
28.7
10.8
24.3
35.7
30.4

6.8
16.1
32.6
34.5
30.2
22.1
31.6
5.8
58.6
14.0
29.1
30.2
22.8
19.0
42.1
37.4
31.0

0.0
14.9
20.9
16.9
26.0
12.5
17.5
6.2
35.8
8.0
17.1
20.7
21.8
21.5
23.3
26.5
19.4

19.7
17.3
23.1
38.3
21.3
18.0
25.4
5.4
43.4
14.0
30.7
25.9
21.6
15.6
36.6
39.6
26.0

*2020 rates should be interpreted with caution due to small numbers.

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 15 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Table 16: Top 15 Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rates (per 100,000 person-years) in 20182020 by Local Health Area (LHA)[3,5,6]
Hope
Vancouver
Revelstoke
Keremeos
North Thompson
Peace River North
Prince George
Grand Forks
Kamloops
Lillooet
Arrow Lakes
Quesnel
Powell River
New Westminster
Princeton

2014-16

2015-17

2016-18

2017-19

2018-20

Number of
Deaths 2018-20

12.3
23.0
0.0
12.8
8.0
19.2
13.6
0.0
17.9
23.7
14.6
4.0
19.3
14.3
6.7

27.7
36.7
0.0
31.0
15.7
17.5
19.4
14.4
26.9
29.8
21.0
13.6
24.0
20.7
44.7

38.5
49.4
20.8
36.6
23.5
28.9
32.7
41.5
37.5
27.6
20.5
19.2
32.2
30.9
64.9

49.1
50.0
19.4
47.7
31.2
24.7
34.8
49.9
31.8
32.2
26.7
26.1
28.7
33.7
66.6

51.8
45.9
44.5
44.0
41.9
41.1
38.2
37.8
36.7
36.6
36.4
36.0
35.8
35.1
35.1

11
769
9
6
4
32
94
11
104
4
4
18
17
66
6

Note that for this table, Vancouver Aggregate includes 6 LHAs. Surrey Aggregate includes 2 LHAs. Victoria,
Sooke, and Saanich LHAs were aggregated. Both Surrey and Victoria aggregate did not rank in the top 15.

Notes:
1. The BCCS operates in a live database environment. Some data for more recent years is based on
preliminary circumstances and is subject to change as investigations are concluded. Data are not
directly comparable to published counts from previous years.
2. This does not include circumstances where the injury event occurred at an overdose prevention site
and death occurred in hospital.
3. 2020 data includes January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020.
4. Date of death was used in tables where date of injury was unknown.
5. Population estimates were taken from:
https://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/apps/PopulationProjections.aspx
6. Health Region breakdowns can be found at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/geographicdata-services/land-use/administrative-boundaries/health-boundaries

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 16 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

Figure 6: Illicit Drug Toxicity Death Rate Maps by
Health Services Delivery Area

References for health regions can be found at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/geographic-dataservices/land-use/administrative-boundaries/health-boundaries
Posting Date June 11, 2020

Page 17 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

List of Townships and Corresponding Health Regions
Township Name
100 Mile House
108 Mile Ranch
150 Mile House
Abbotsford
Alert Bay
Armstrong
Arras
Beasley
Beaver Falls
Blue River
Bowen Island
Bowser
Burnaby
Burns Lake
Cache Creek
Campbell River
Canal Flats
Castlegar
Cawston
Cedar
Central Saanich
Charlie Lake
Chase
Chemainus
Chetwynd
Chilliwack
Christina Lake
Clearwater
Cobble Hill
Coldstream
Colwood
Comox
Coombs
Coquitlam
Cortes Island
Courtenay
Cowichan Bay
Cranbrook
Crescent Valley
Creston
Cultus Lake
Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authority
Interior
Interior
Interior
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Interior
Northern
Interior
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Fraser
Northern
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Northern
Interior
Vancouver Island
Northern
Fraser
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Interior
Fraser

Health Services Delivery Area
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Fraser East
North Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Northeast
Kootenay Boundary
Kootenay Boundary
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Central Vancouver Island
Fraser North
Northern Interior
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
North Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
Kootenay Boundary
Okanagan
Central Vancouver Island
South Vancouver Island
Northeast
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Central Vancouver Island
Northeast
Fraser East
Kootenay Boundary
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Central Vancouver Island
Okanagan
South Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
Fraser North
North Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
Kootenay Boundary
East Kootenay
Fraser East
Page 18 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

List of Townships and Corresponding Health Regions
Township Name
Cumberland
Dawson Creek
Dease Lake
Delta
Duncan
Edgewood
Elkford
Enderby
Errington
Esquimalt
Fairmont Hot Springs
Falkland
Fort Nelson
Fort St. James
Fort St. John
Gabriola Island
Galiano Island
Gibsons
Gillies Bay
Gold River
Golden
Grand Forks
Harrison Hot Springs
Hope
Horsefly
Houston
Invermere
Isle Pierre
Kamloops
Kaslo
Kelowna
Kent
Kimberley
Kispiox
Kitamaat Village
Kitimat
Kitseguecla (Gitsegukla)
Lac La Hache
Ladysmith
Lake Country, District Of
Lake Cowichan
Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authority
Vancouver Island
Northern
Northern
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Northern
Northern
Northern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Fraser
Fraser
Interior
Northern
Interior
Northern
Interior
Interior
Interior
Fraser
Interior
Northern
Northern
Northern
Northern
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Island

Health Services Delivery Area
North Vancouver Island
Northeast
Northwest
Fraser South
Central Vancouver Island
Kootenay Boundary
East Kootenay
Okanagan
Central Vancouver Island
South Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Northeast
Northern Interior
Northeast
Central Vancouver Island
South Vancouver Island
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
North Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
Kootenay Boundary
Fraser East
Fraser East
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Northwest
East Kootenay
Northern Interior
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Kootenay Boundary
Okanagan
Fraser East
East Kootenay
Northwest
Northwest
Northwest
Northwest
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Central Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Central Vancouver Island
Page 19 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

List of Townships and Corresponding Health Regions
Township Name
Langford
Langley
Lantzville
Lee Creek
Lillooet
Lions Bay
Logan Lake
Lumby
Mabel Lake
Mackenzie
Madeira Park
Malakwa
Maple Ridge
Mayne Island
Merritt
Mill Bay
Mission
Nakusp
Nanaimo
Nanoose Bay
Nelson
New Denver
New Hazelton
New Westminster
North Cowichan
North Vancouver
Oak Bay
Okanagan Falls
Olalla
Oliver
Osoyoos
Parksville
Peachland
Pemberton
Pender Island
Penticton
Pink Mountain
Pitt Meadows
Port Alberni
Port Alice
Port Coquitlam
Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authority
Vancouver Island
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Interior
Interior
Interior
Northern
Vancouver Coastal
Interior
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Island
Fraser
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Northern
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Interior
Northern
Fraser
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Fraser

Health Services Delivery Area
South Vancouver Island
Fraser South
Central Vancouver Island
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Okanagan
Okanagan
Northern Interior
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Fraser North
South Vancouver Island
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Central Vancouver Island
Fraser East
Kootenay Boundary
Central Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
Kootenay Boundary
Kootenay Boundary
Northwest
Fraser North
Central Vancouver Island
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
South Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Okanagan
Okanagan
Okanagan
Central Vancouver Island
Okanagan
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
South Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Northeast
Fraser North
Central Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Fraser North
Page 20 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

List of Townships and Corresponding Health Regions
Township Name
Port Hardy
Port Mcneill
Port Moody
Powell River
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Princeton
Prophet River
Quadra Island
Qualicum Beach
Queen Charlotte City
Quesnel
Radium Hot Springs
Revelstoke
Richmond
Roberts Creek
Rock Creek
Saanich
Salmo
Salmon Arm
Salt Spring Island
Sayward
Sechelt
Seton Portage
Shawnigan Lake
Sicamous
Smithers
Sointula
Sooke
South Slocan
South Wellington
Sparwood
Squamish
Sullivan Bay
Summerland
Surrey
Terrace
Trail
Tumbler Ridge
Ucluelet
Vancouver
Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authority
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Fraser
Vancouver Coastal
Northern
Northern
Interior
Northern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Northern
Northern
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Coastal
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Coastal
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Northern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Interior
Fraser
Northern
Interior
Northern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Coastal

Health Services Delivery Area
North Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
Fraser North
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Northern Interior
Northwest
Okanagan
Northeast
North Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
Northwest
Northern Interior
East Kootenay
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Richmond
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Kootenay Boundary
South Vancouver Island
Kootenay Boundary
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
South Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Central Vancouver Island
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Northwest
North Vancouver Island
South Vancouver Island
Kootenay Boundary
Central Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
North Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Fraser South
Northwest
Kootenay Boundary
Northeast
Central Vancouver Island
Vancouver
Page 21 of 22

 BC Coroners Service

Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in BC
January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2020

List of Townships and Corresponding Health Regions
Township Name
Vanderhoof
Vernon
Victoria
West Kelowna
West Vancouver
Whisky Creek
Whistler
White Rock
Williams Lake
Winlaw
Wonowon
Yale
Ymir
Youbou
Zeballos

Posting Date June 11, 2020

Health Authority
Northern
Interior
Vancouver Island
Interior
Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Coastal
Fraser
Interior
Interior
Northern
Fraser
Interior
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island

Health Services Delivery Area
Northern Interior
Okanagan
South Vancouver Island
Okanagan
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Central Vancouver Island
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Fraser South
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Kootenay Boundary
Northeast
Fraser East
Kootenay Boundary
Central Vancouver Island
North Vancouver Island

Page 22 of 22