Unregulated drug toxicity claims 138 lives in June; BC Greens slam Health Minister Kahlon

ACCORDING to preliminary data reported by the BC Coroners Service, there were 138 deaths due to suspected unregulated drug toxicity in British Columbia in June, equating to approximately 4.6 deaths a day, according to BC Coroners Service.

In the first six months of 2026, deaths among people between 30 and 59 accounted for 68% of drug-toxicity deaths in the province, and 75% were male.

By health authority in 2026, the highest number of unregulated drug deaths were in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (206 and 200 deaths, respectively), making up 52% of all such deaths.

So far in 2026, 81% of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside in places such as private residences (53%) and other residences such as social and supportive housing, SROs, shelters and other locations (28%), and 18% occurred outside in places such as vehicles, sidewalks, streets and parks.

In 2026, fluorofentanyl was detected in 67% of decedents who underwent expedited testing, followed by cocaine (55%), fentanyl (53%), methamphetamine (52%), desalkylgidazepam (23%), bromazolam (21%) and hydromorphone (5%). Smoking continues to be the most common mode of consumption (68%), followed by nasal insufflation (11%), injection (8%) and oral (3%).

It is important to note that data from the report is preliminary and subject to change as additional toxicological results are received and investigations conclude.

REFERRING to this data, the BC Greens slammed the B.C. government’s decision to cancel a planned overdose prevention site in Downtown Vancouver.

Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, said: “Cancelling a planned overdose prevention site won’t make anyone stop using drugs. It will simply mean that more people are forced to use alone, without oversight, and without someone there to intervene when things go wrong. Pushing people from a supervised space onto the street—or behind closed doors—doesn’t make communities safer. It increases the risk of overdose and death.”

The BC Greens noted that the data from the BC Coroners Service shows that Vancouver Coastal Health, where the cancelled overdose prevention service served, has one of the highest numbers of deaths from unregulated drug toxicity in the province. 

Emily Lowan, Leader of the BC Greens, said: “Ravi Kahlon’s first decision as Minister of Health is to put politics ahead of people. The Minister has caved to pressure from [Vancouver] Mayor Ken Sim. Yet this out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to a public health emergency will do the exact opposite: force people further onto the streets and break from the path to healing. 

“If the government is serious about helping people get healthy and keeping communities safe, it needs to invest in a regulated drug supply, voluntary and accessible treatment, and the supports that keeps people connected to their communities. Harm reduction is how we help British Columbians get through addiction. Policy choices like this cost lives.”

Botterell added: “These choices are not the only choices available—yet Minister Kahlon has made one that risks public health in an attempt to make it appear his government is addressing public safety. That is a damaging false choice. We can take public safety seriously while also investing in a regulated supply, voluntary services, supportive housing and community-based supports. Everyone counts, and keeping people alive has to be the first step toward helping people get well.”