Key findings for 2025
(We may update the data based on reviews.)
Since the public health emergency for toxic drugs was declared in 2016, BCEHS has seen a 105% total increase in annual overdose/poisoning events.
In 2025, BCEHS paramedics responded to a total of 39,592 overdose/poisoning patient events, compared to 40,543 overdose/poisoning patient events in 2024. This represents a 2% decrease from the previous year.
BCEHS paramedics responded to an average of 108 overdose/poisoning patient events a day in 2025, down from an average of 111 overdose/poisoning patient events a day in 2024.
In 2025, BCEHS experienced 6 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning patient events, with 3 of these months having more than 4,000 events. In 2024, BCEHS experienced 10 months with more than 3,000 overdose/poisoning events.
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2025: 39,592 (down 2% from previous year)
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2024: 40,543 (down 4% from previous year)
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2023: 42,172 (up 25% from previous year)
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2022: 33,654 (down 5% from the previous year)
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2021: 35,585 (up 31% over the previous year)
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2020: 27,068 (up 12% over the previous year)
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2019: 24,166 (up 2% over the previous year)
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2018: 23,662 (up 1% over the previous year)
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2017: 23,441 (up 22% over the previous year
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2016: 19,275 (up 57% over the previous year)
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2015: 12,263
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2004-2015: Prior to 2016, overdose/poisoning events in B.C. fluctuated from 10,000 to 15,000 events a year.
Overdose and poisoning events by health authority
Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health, which together serve about half of BC’s population, continued to record the highest number of overdose and poisoning events.
In 2025:
- Fraser Health and Interior Health recorded increases in overdose and poisoning events
- Northern Health, Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health recorded decreases in overdose and poisoning events
- Fraser Health: 11,494 (+8.5%)
- Interior Health: 6,823 (+0.3%)
- Northern Health: 2,834 (-17.4%)
- Island Health: 7,514 (-12.9%)
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 10,927 (-1.5%)
Fraser Health:
- 2025: 11,494
- 2024: 10,585
- 2023: 10,254
- 2022: 9,537
- 2021: 10,573
- 2020: 7,272
- 2019: 6,478
- 2018: 6,513
- 2017: 6,554
- 2016: 5,927
Vancouver Coastal:
- 2025: 10,927
- 2024: 11,092
- 2023: 11,830
- 2022: 9,071
- 2021: 11,204
- 2020: 9,041
- 2019: 9,407
- 2018: 8,686
- 2017: 8,697
- 2016: 6,714
Island Health:
- 2025: 7,514
- 2024: 8,630
- 2023: 9,086
- 2022: 6,277
- 2021: 5,917
- 2020: 4,446
- 2019: 3,852
- 2018: 4,102
- 2017: 3,821
- 2016: 3,122
Interior Health:
- 2025: 6,823
- 2024: 6,804
- 2023: 7,504
- 2022: 5,931
- 2021: 5,417
- 2020: 4,211
- 2019: 3,097
- 2018: 3,129
- 2017: 3,284
- 2016: 2,599
Northern Health:
- 2025: 2,834
- 2024: 3,432
- 2023: 3,498
- 2022: 2,838
- 2021: 2,414
- 2020: 2,077
- 2019: 1,332
- 2018: 1,232
- 2017: 1,085
- 2016: 913
British Columbia:
- 2025: 39,592
- 2024: 40,543
- 2023: 42,172
- 2022: 33,654
- 2021: 35,585
- 2020: 27,067
- 2019: 24,116
- 2018: 23,662
- 2017: 23,441
- 2016: 19,275
Top 5 communities for overdose and poisoning events
BCEHS receives the highest number of overdose and poisoning calls from large urban centres, including Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria.
The five communities with the highest number of overdose and poisoning patient events in 2025 are listed below, along with the percentage change from 2024:
- Vancouver: 9,537 (-0.3%)
- Surrey: 3,618 (+8.5%)
- Victoria: 2,282 (-4.2%)
- Kelowna: 1,862 (-8.4%)
- Prince George 1,555 (-11.5%)
Highest call volume days
In 2025, BCEHS paramedics responded to an average of 108 overdose and poisoning patient events each day in BC, down from 111 per day in 2024.
On November 19, 2025, BCEHS recorded 222 overdose and poisoning patient events, the highest single-day total at that time.
Highest call volume months
In November 2025, BC paramedics responded to 4,177 overdose and poisoning patient events, the highest monthly total recorded at that time.
In 2025, BCEHS recorded:
- Six months with more than 3,000 overdose and poisoning events
- Three months with more than 4,000 overdose and poisoning events
In comparison, BCEHS recorded 10 months with more than 3,000 overdose and poisoning events in 2024.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average monthly call volume was about 2,000 overdose events.
