Nine people died in the East Kootenay from drug-toxicity deaths from January to August 2026.

A total of 177 people have lost their lives in the Interior Health Authority region so far in 2026, including 45 lives lost in July and August, according to preliminary reporting by the BC Coroners Service (BCCS), which shows that 113 people died in July, and 126 people in August, due to unregulated drug toxicity.

In July and August, 188 deaths due to drug toxicity were male and 51 were female. So far in 2026, males account for 76% of unregulated drug deaths reported to BCCS, and females 24%.

Those between the ages of 30 and 59 account for 69% of drug toxicity deaths in the province in 2026, the BCCS said.

In 2026, fluorofentanyl has become the most common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing, discovered in 68% of unregulated drug deaths. Cocaine (56%) is the second most-detected substance in decedents who underwent expedited testing, followed by methamphetamine (53%), fentanyl (50%) and desalkylgidazepam (21%).

Reporting in July and August shows evidence of smoking as the most common mode of unregulated drug consumption among decedents (65% and 67%, respectively).

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

Additional key findings from the reporting include:

* The number of unregulated drug deaths in July and August were 3.6 and 4.1 deaths per day, respectively.

* Northern health and Island health authorities have the highest rates of unregulated drug deaths this year, at 43 per 100,000 people, and 34 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively.

* The cities experiencing the highest number of unregulated drug deaths in 2026 are Vancouver (237), Surrey (82) and Greater Victoria (80).

* So far in 2026, 51% of deaths occurred in private residences, compared with 19% outdoors.

Read the BC Coroners Service report.

e-KNOW

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