Youth Unregulated Drug Toxicity Deaths In British Columbia: January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023

From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, there were 126 unregulated drug toxicity deaths in BC of persons younger than 19 years of age. The number of deaths equates to about 25 deaths a year. Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death among youth during this period. Fentanyl or its analogues were detected in 83% of all deaths, either alone or in combination with other substances. Hydromorphone was detected in 16 (13%) deaths and in 11 (69%) of those deaths, was found in concentrations below or within therapeutic range and unlikely to have contributed significantly to the death. In all 16 deaths, at least one other substance was found that contributed to the death.