Three unregulated drug deaths in Coquitlam so far this year: coroners report

published on July 9, 2026 by Jeremy Shepherd in Tri-Cities Dispatch

Unregulated drug deaths fell sharply in Coquitlam over the first five months of 2025, mirroring a provincial trend, according to a recent report from B.C. Coroners Service.

Coroners reported three unregulated drug deaths in Coquitlam over the first five months of 2026. Over the past four years, unregulated drug deaths have ranged between 22 and 36 per year.

The death rate per 100,000 people also fell in the Tri-Cities, dropping from 25.6 in 2021 to 11.5 in 2025, marking four consecutive years of decline.

A total of 66 people died due to unregulated drugs in the Tri-Cities in 2021, compared to 33 in 2025.

The drop in overdose deaths seems to match the experience of emergency responders…