Five daily deaths from toxic drugs reported in B.C.

Next month marks ten years since British Columbia declared a public health emergency due to the tainted illicit drug supply, leading to over 16,000 overdose deaths. In January 2026, nearly five people died daily from unregulated drugs, with fentanyl present in approximately 80% of cases. Most victims were men aged 30 to 59, and a rise in drug-related deaths among youth under 19 was noted. A recent provincewide alert highlighted the dangers of toxic drugs contaminated with medetomidine.

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