70 per cent of 2026 unregulated drug deaths in northern B.C. involve fentanyl

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Northern Health has recorded the least amount of unregulated drug deaths in the province as of April 2026, according to the British Columbia Coroner’s Service. 

The British Columbia Coroner’s Service drug toxicity report for April shows a total of 47 unregulated drug deaths in Northern Health for the year as of April 2026.

According to the report, published on June 11th, regions in the Northern Health authority recorded 3.3 unregulated drug deaths per 100,000 people in April 2026, a continued decrease compared to 3.7 in March and 4.3 in February. 

Among health authorities across the province, Northern Health has recorded the lowest number of regulated drug deaths in April, with 10, compared to Vancouver Coastal, which recorded the highest number with 38. 

In total, B.C.saw 119 unregulated drug deaths in April 2026. Overall, it has recorded 397 drug deaths involving fentanyl as of April. 

Northern Health recorded 9 new unregulated drug deaths in April, for a total of 33 deaths in 2026, up from 24 as of March 2026. 

In Northern Health, the most common location of unregulated drug deaths is private residences, where 72.3 per cent of all unregulated drug deaths occur. 17 per cent of deaths happened in other residences, while 4.3 per cent occurred outside. 

According to the report, the 40 to 49 year age group recorded the most unregulated drug deaths with 30, followed by 25 deaths for the 30 to 39 and 50 to 59 age groups. 

As of April 2026, the Northeast Health Service Delivery Area has recorded 33.8 unregulated drug deaths per 100,000 people, the sixth most in the province, the report said. 

The report revealed 10 per cent of unregulated deaths included those in the trades, transport or equipment operators industry in 2025. 63 per cent of deaths occurred among those in an ‘unknown’ industry.

The most common mode of consumption continues to be smoking, up from 82 per cent in March to 90 per cent in April. Nasal insufflation, also known as snorting, has increased from 9 per cent to 20 per cent. Injection is also up, from 9 per cent to 10 per cent, according to the report. 

Fort St. John’s specialized community services centre, which offers overdose prevention services, is set to reopen in mid-July, Northern Health said.