126 youth killed from toxic drugs since 2019: BC Coroners Service

New data shows how B.C.’s toxic drug crisis has affected children and youth.

In a report Tuesday, the BC Coroners Service (BCCS) said 126 people under the age of 19-years-old were killed by the toxic unregulated drug supply between 2019 and 2023 — 28 of whom died in 2023 alone.

BCCS said toxic drugs are the leading cause of unnatural deaths for youth, and most people in the group are either 17 or 18-years-old.

The report noted that young women accounted for 51 per cent of those deaths — a significant difference compared to the general population, where men account for around 80 per cent of all drug deaths in B.C.

Leslie McBain of Moms Stop the Harm says the report highlights several tragic trends.

Looking “behind the numbers,” she said she learned that “85 out of the 126 youth that died from drug harms — 85 had been diagnosed with mental health issues, or were seen to have displayed issues with poor mental health.”

McBain asked, “How did we as adults and parents and the system let these kids fall through the cracks?”

The report claimed many of the youth had been recipients of Family Development services or youth services at some point in their lives.

“If there’s anything that’s going to stress out a kid, it’s being in the welfare system,” said McBain. “There’s a lot of things that will stress kids and make them want to feel better. Unfortunately, the toxic drug supply, for the naïve user, or even people who have used it for a long time, can be lethal.”

McBain says youth have always experimented with drug use, the toxicity in the supply is what has changed.

“We need education and we need mental health support,” she said, adding that she advocates for compassion, but “education is primary.”