No drug deaths recorded in Vernon this September

Nov 3, 2025 | 11:36 AM

Vernon did not see any lives lost to illicit toxic substances in September.

That’s according to the B.C. Coroners Service, which reported 158 suspected unregulated drug deaths across the province during that month, though none in Vernon.

To date, Vernon has seen 21 deaths linked to illicit drugs in 2025.

Kelowna did see six lives lost to drugs in September, bringing the year-to-date death toll for the Central Okanagan city up to 70.

B.C. has seen 1,384 deaths linked to toxic drugs so far in 2025, with the Coroner’s Service saying 78 per cent of people who had died this year were male and 69 per cent were between 30 and 59 years old.

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The Coroner’s Service said there had been a slight increase in youth drug deaths, noting there were 20 between January and September this year, up from 17 during the same period in 2024. However, it did state that the 2025 youth drug death figures were below those from the same period in previous years, stating there were 28 deaths 2022, and 22 in both 2021 and 2023.

The agency’s data showed that fentanyl was detected in 70 per cent of unregulated drug deaths that had undergone toxicology testing.

The Coroner’s Service added that 78 per cent of unregulated drug deaths occurred inside, with 48 per cent in private residences and 30 per cent in other indoor locations including hotels, social and supportive housing, and shelters.

by Liam Verster

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