Study shows most overdose deaths in British Columbia occur outside hospitals

Researchers at the BC Centre for Disease Control have published data showing that most drug overdose deaths in British Columbia happen away from medical care. The study followed over 66,000 people who experienced overdoses between 2015 and 2023.

One of the clearest findings was that nearly 80% of fatal overdoses occurred without any contact with the healthcare system. However, among people who were admitted to hospital after an overdose, around 92.5% survived and were discharged.

Only about 7% of overdose events led to hospitalisation, while 39% involved a visit to an emergency department. Men made up roughly two thirds of all overdose cases and 79% of deaths. Almost half of those affected were aged between 20 and 39 when they first experienced an overdose.