Victoria indicators

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Overdose calls paramedics attended

Area: City of Victoria Calendar year 2025

2,282 a year

In a yearAbout the same−4.2%, within ±5%
In 6 years Worse+61.6% since 2019

No target found. Who could set one: Province of B.C.. Targets and comparisons

Source: BC Emergency Health Services. We read it on Nov 12, 2026.

Check this numberOpen the report at page 3 (agency site)

Over time

Time range

Overdose and poisoning events paramedics attended

2025 Events, by year

  • Victoria 2,282
  • Saanich 350
  • Langford 189
Line chart of 3 lines, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,569 events (2020), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,569 events (2020). Saanich: starts at 265 events (2020), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 265 events (2020). Langford: starts at 123 events (2020), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 123 events (2020). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events202520232021Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20252020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,569 events (2020), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,569 events (2020). Saanich: starts at 265 events (2020), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 265 events (2020). Langford: starts at 123 events (2020), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 123 events (2020). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events202520232021Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20252020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,569 events (2020), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,569 events (2020). Saanich: starts at 265 events (2020), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 265 events (2020). Langford: starts at 123 events (2020), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 123 events (2020). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events202520242023202220212020Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 2025Victoria 2,282Saanich 350Langford 1892020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 6 periods from 2020 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,569 events (2020), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,569 events (2020). Saanich: starts at 265 events (2020), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 265 events (2020). Langford: starts at 123 events (2020), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 123 events (2020). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events202520242023202220212020Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 2025Victoria 2,282Saanich 350Langford 1892020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year.

P provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

About these ticks

Overdose and poisoning events paramedics attended

2025 Events, by year

  • Victoria 2,282
  • Saanich 350
  • Langford 189
Line chart of 3 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,149 events (2016), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,149 events (2016). Saanich: starts at 251 events (2016), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 251 events (2016). Langford: starts at 89 events (2016), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 89 events (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events2025202220192016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20252016: Victoria: 1,149 events; Saanich: 251 events; Langford: 89 events2017: Victoria: 1,398 events; Saanich: 269 events; Langford: 99 events2018: Victoria: 1,531 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2019: Victoria: 1,412 events; Saanich: 261 events; Langford: 122 events2020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,149 events (2016), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,149 events (2016). Saanich: starts at 251 events (2016), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 251 events (2016). Langford: starts at 89 events (2016), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 89 events (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events2025202220192016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 20252016: Victoria: 1,149 events; Saanich: 251 events; Langford: 89 events2017: Victoria: 1,398 events; Saanich: 269 events; Langford: 99 events2018: Victoria: 1,531 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2019: Victoria: 1,412 events; Saanich: 261 events; Langford: 122 events2020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,149 events (2016), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,149 events (2016). Saanich: starts at 251 events (2016), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 251 events (2016). Langford: starts at 89 events (2016), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 89 events (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events20252023202120192017Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 2025Victoria 2,282Saanich 350Langford 1892016: Victoria: 1,149 events; Saanich: 251 events; Langford: 89 events2017: Victoria: 1,398 events; Saanich: 269 events; Langford: 99 events2018: Victoria: 1,531 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2019: Victoria: 1,412 events; Saanich: 261 events; Langford: 122 events2020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events
Line chart of 3 lines, 10 periods from 2016 to 2025. Victoria: starts at 1,149 events (2016), ends at 2,282 events (2025); highest 2,381 events (2024), lowest 1,149 events (2016). Saanich: starts at 251 events (2016), ends at 350 events (2025); highest 464 events (2023), lowest 251 events (2016). Langford: starts at 89 events (2016), ends at 189 events (2025); highest 278 events (2023), lowest 89 events (2016). Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024; Federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025. Every value is in the table.01,0002,0003,000 events2025202420232022202120202019201820172016Provincial election, May 9, 2017Federal election, Oct 21, 2019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Federal election, Sep 20, 2021Provincial election, Oct 19, 2024Federal election, Apr 28, 2025Victoria 2,282Saanich 350Langford 1892016: Victoria: 1,149 events; Saanich: 251 events; Langford: 89 events2017: Victoria: 1,398 events; Saanich: 269 events; Langford: 99 events2018: Victoria: 1,531 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2019: Victoria: 1,412 events; Saanich: 261 events; Langford: 122 events2020: Victoria: 1,569 events; Saanich: 265 events; Langford: 123 events2021: Victoria: 1,954 events; Saanich: 342 events; Langford: 155 events2022: Victoria: 2,037 events; Saanich: 329 events; Langford: 163 events2023: Victoria: 2,262 events; Saanich: 464 events; Langford: 278 events2024: Victoria: 2,381 events; Saanich: 419 events; Langford: 210 events2025: Victoria: 2,282 events; Saanich: 350 events; Langford: 189 events

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024F federal election: Oct 21, 2019; Sep 20, 2021; Apr 28, 2025

About these ticks

Targets and comparisons

No target found

How targets are chosen

Show the numbers as a table
Overdose and poisoning events paramedics attended (newest first)
PeriodVictoriaSaanichLangford
20252,282350189
20242,381419210
20232,262464278
20222,037329163
20211,954342155
20201,569265123
20191,412261122
20181,531265123
20171,39826999
20161,14925189

How it compares

BC Emergency Health Services, 2025, events. Comparisons are not goals.

Victoria2,282Saanich350Langford189

Who decides

Province of B.C. Sets provincial standards for health services and appoints Island Health’s board. Health Authorities Act, s. 3

Show the 2 other bodies and the laws
Who decides what: Overdose calls paramedics attended
BodyWhat it decidesLaw or bylaw
Province of B.C.Sets provincial standards for health services and appoints Island Health’s board.Health Authorities Act, s. 3
Health Authorities Act, s. 4
Island HealthPlans and runs health services in the region: which services, which facilities and the programs that deliver them.Health Authorities Act, s. 5
Government of Canada and ParliamentMakes federal drug law and can exempt people, places or substances from it.Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, s. 56

Province: last general election October 19, 2024; next set for October 21, 2028 unless called earlier (Constitution Act, s. 23). Canada: last general election April 28, 2025; next set for October 15, 2029 unless called earlier (Canada Elections Act, s. 56.1).

Each row says what a body decides and links to the law, order or bylaw that gives it that role. It does not say who caused a change: markets, households and other governments also move these numbers. Who decides what, for every measure · How we choose

What this number does not show

  • Patient events that paramedics responded to under the overdose and poisoning dispatch code (MPDS card 23), by the community BCEHS assigns to the call. They are calls, not people: one person can have several events, and an overdose where no one calls 911 is not counted.
One more limit
  • Calls depend on people calling 911, so changes in calling or in supervised consumption services can move the count.

Not measured yet in homelessness and drugs: hidden homelessness. See all 18 gaps

In plain words

Down 4.2% in a year. Up 62% since 2019.

Overdose and drug poisoning patient events that paramedics responded to in the BC Emergency Health Services community of Victoria, in each calendar year.

How we decide “About the same this year. Worse over 6 years.”

The change is 4.2% of the earlier value, below the 5% threshold. Over 6 years (since 2019) the change is 61.6% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold, so the label also says Worse over 6 years.

Fewer calls means fewer overdoses and poisonings that needed paramedics. 2,282 overdose or poisoning patient events in 2025 against 2,381 in 2024 (BC Emergency Health Services, medical dispatch card 23). Saanich 350; Esquimalt 86; Langford 189; Colwood 50; View Royal 40; Oak Bay 28.

Outcome measures read Better, Worse or About the same; published government targets read Ahead of, On or Behind target; value-judgement measures read Rising, Falling or Steady in a neutral colour. A change smaller than the agency's own margin of error, or otherwise smaller than 5% of the earlier value, is About the same (or Steady). No change is calculated across a marked break in a series. The rule.

All notes on this number

Why it matters. It shows how often overdoses happen badly enough for someone to call 911, a sign that comes before deaths.

  • Patient events that paramedics responded to under the overdose and poisoning dispatch code (MPDS card 23), by the community BCEHS assigns to the call. They are calls, not people: one person can have several events, and an overdose where no one calls 911 is not counted.
  • Calls depend on people calling 911, so changes in calling or in supervised consumption services can move the count.
  • BC Emergency Health Services says the figures may be updated after review.

Which places

Area: City of Victoria

The City of Victoria municipality only, all neighbourhoods.

Included

  • All City of Victoria neighbourhoods, including Downtown, James Bay, Fairfield, Fernwood, Oaklands, Hillside/Quadra, North Park, Burnside, Victoria West, Rockland, Jubilee and Gonzales

Not included

  • Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Langford and every other municipality in the region

Official definition

How the agency describes it: Victoria (BC Emergency Health Services community).

How we got it

This number is published by the agency as shown; it is not calculated here. The script reads it from the agency’s own document and refuses to show it unless the expected text is found.

Licence and credits

This figure is public but not under an open licence: the agency publishes it for anyone to read, and it is shown here with credit and a link to the agency’s terms. About licences.

Licence
Public data, not under an open licence. Used with attribution. Agency’s terms of use
Updated by agency
Yearly (BC Emergency Health Services); latest release Jan 3, 2026
Retrieved
Nov 12, 2026, 10:30 PM B.C. time

Source: BC Emergency Health Services, Overdose Response in B.C. Communities. Public document, used with attribution; not endorsed by the publisher.

Related measures

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