Trends
Based on data in 2025 for Card 23 (overdose/poisoning events), the following observations can be made. Note, the data reflects the number of overdose/poisoning events paramedics have responded to in each health authority and province-wide.
- In 2025, BCEHS experienced 6 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning events, with 3 of these months having more than 4,000 overdose/poisoning events.
- In 2024, BCEHS experienced 10 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning events for the year.
- In 2023, BCEHS experienced 11 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning events for the year.
- In 2022, BCEHS experienced two months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning events for the year, including the first single-day total over 200 on Jan. 19, 2022 (203 events).
- As of December 31, 2025, in total, there have been 16 days when BCEHS experienced 170 or more overdose/poisoning patient events. In 2024, there were 12 days with 170 or more events.
On November 19, 2025, BCEHS recorded 222 overdose/poisoning patient events which was the highest single day total at the time. That record has now been surpassed. On January 21, 2026, BCEHS recorded 256 overdose/poisoning patient events.
Between January 1, 2022, and December 31,2025, there were 15 days in which BCEHS responded to more than 200 overdose/poisoning events in a single day.
2025- Average events/day by month
- January: 87.8
- February: 86.5
- March: 81.8
- April: 86
- May: 94
- June: 99.5
- July: 108
- August: 124.5
- September: 129.6
- October: 129
- November: 139.2
- December: 134
2024 - Average events/day by month
- January: 108.7
- February: 111.8
- March: 112.5
- April: 112
- May: 116.5
- June: 129.1
- July: 126
- August: 122.8
- September: 111.4
- October: 96.8
- November: 92.1
- December: 89.5
2023 - Average events/day by month
- January: 97.9
- February: 103.8
- March: 118.4
- April: 120.0
- May: 115.9
- June: 127.9
- July: 127.2
- August: 121.8
- September: 120.3
- October: 106.7
- November: 112.6
- December: 113.5
2022 - Average events/day by month
- January: 98.2
- February: 97.3
- March: 96.2
- April: 99.6
- May: 98.2
- June: 94.3
- July: 90.4
- August: 89.6
- September: 88.3
- October: 84.7
- November: 85.3
- December: 84.8
2021 - Average events/day by month
- January: 76.2
- February: 81.9
- March: 81.8
- April: 91.9
- May: 96.0
- June: 100.6
- July: 116.3
- August: 112.6
- September: 106.9
- October: 105.0
- November: 103.5
- December: 95.8
2020 - Average events/day by month
- January: 59.3
- February: 59.2
- March: 63.1
- April: 71.9
- May: 74.9
- June: 79.0
- July: 87.3
- August: 76.5
- September: 81.0
- October: 83.3
- November: 76.7
- December: 74.9
