File photo of a BC Coroners Service jacket. (Vista Radio staff)
Health
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Coroners report 30 drug toxicity deaths on Vancouver Island through February

Wylie Henderson
By Wylie Henderson

Updated data from the BC Coroners Service shows unregulated drug toxicity led to 30 deaths on Vancouver Island through February.

The data indicates 11 deaths were reported in south Island, 17 in central Island and three in north Island.

Provincewide, 115 people died in February, which amounts to about 4.1 deaths per day.

“The highest number of unregulated drug deaths by health authority in the first two months of 2026 were in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities (62 and 74 deaths, respectively), making up 51% of all such deaths,” reads a statement from the coroner’s service.

The report comes as the province marks the 10-year anniversary of the declaration of a public health emergency in response to drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia.

Wylie Henderson
Wylie Henderson
Wylie is news director for Vancouver Island, bringing more than a decade of broadcast experience to the role. A Vancouver native, he moved to the Island in 2025 with his wife and stepdaughter after a long run on the airwaves in the Kootenays. He is committed to delivering timely, reliable and community-focused news to listeners across the region. A lifelong Vancouver Canucks and B.C. Lions fan, Wylie is just as comfortable breaking down a game as he is breaking down a news story. Away from the newsroom, he can often be found on the golf course, cycling or lacing up his skates for a game of hockey. For Wylie, keeping listeners informed about what matters locally is more than a job, it’s a passion.

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