The BC Coroners Service has released the latest statistics for unregulated drug deaths and the death rate in the Northern Interior, which includes Quesnel, was at 57.2 per 100,000 people through April.
That is the highest rate out of the 16 health service delivery areas.
Central Vancouver Island is next at 56.8.
There were 29 suspected overdoses in the Northern Interior in the first 4 months of this year, which is in line to match the total of 87 for all of 2025.
The Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap, which includes Williams Lake and 100 Mile House, was at 23.7 deaths per 100,000, which was the lowest its been since 2019 and ranks as the 5th lowest in the province.
That health service delivery area is in line for a large decrease in the year over year unregulated drug deaths.
There were 20 through April of this year and 107 in all of 2025.
Province-wide, there were 119 suspected overdoses in April which equates to around 4 people per day.
522 people lost their lives due to drugs in the first four months of this year.
There were 1,825 in all of 2025.
68% of the unregulated drug deaths so far this year in B.C. were people between the age of 30 and 59, and 76% were male.
Smoking is the most common way of consumption, followed by nasal insufflation (10%), injection (8%, and oral(3%).
