TERRACE, B.C. – Terrace is experiencing a devastating start to the year in the ongoing toxic drug crisis, recording the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Northern B.C. and the second-highest in the entire province, according to new data from the BC Coroners Service.
The latest report, which covers deaths up to the end of April 2025, shows eight people have died from toxic drugs in the Terrace Local Health Area so far this year. This translates to a death rate of 104.1 per 100,000 population, a measure used to compare jurisdictions of different sizes.
Only Vancouver’s Centre North health area has a higher rate in the province.
The tragic statistic is part of a worsening trend for the city, which has seen its toxic drug death rate climb steadily from 18.9 per 100,000 in 2016 to a high of 117.3 for the full year in 2024.
The Northern Health region as a whole continues to be the most impacted health authority in B.C., with a rate of 46 deaths per 100,000 population. Within the North, Prince George has recorded the highest number of deaths this year at 15, followed by Terrace at eight.
Provincially, 165 people died from unregulated drugs in April, equating to about 5.5 deaths per day. The majority of victims (68%) are between the ages of 30 and 59, and 77% are male. Fentanyl continues to be the primary driver of the crisis, being detected in 68% of deaths that have undergone toxicology testing.
Northern Health operates a substance management office and drug testing service in Terrace, located at 101-4450 Greig Ave., as part of its harm reduction efforts in the region.
