Fathers united by loss share warning about dangers of fentanyl

Harlan Fourre, who would have turned 35 this Sunday, lost his life after taking what he believed was ecstasy, but was actually laced with fentanyl. His father, Joseph Fourre, organized a somber walk in downtown Winnipeg to commemorate his son and remember others who have died from fentanyl poisoning. Three and a half years after Harlan's death, the organization he founded, the Singing Red Bear Foundation, held its third annual Fentanyl Awareness Day walk.

The walk begins at the Oodena Circle at the Forks and ends at the legislative building in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and create a space for grieving families.

Fentanyl is a potent drug, with as little as two milligrams, or around five grains of salt, being enough to cause a fatal overdose. Many recreational drugs are intentionally laced with fentanyl by dealers to increase their potency and profit. Health Canada reports that between 2018 and 2022, more than 40% of overdose deaths were caused by cocaine laced with fentanyl. The street-level drug supply has been increasingly contaminated and toxic, often containing fentanyl, carfentanil, and other highly potent fentanyl analogues.

In 2025, there were 388 suspected substance-related deaths in Manitoba. Harlan's father stresses the importance of prevention and awareness, advocating that a first-time, occasional, or recreational drug user is still at risk of fentanyl poisoning. He advocates for referring to Harlan's death as "fentanyl poisoning" rather than an "overdose" to draw attention to the dangers of the drug supply.

Joseph Fourre encourages young people to understand that social use is not safe use and to recognize that the drug supply can be dangerous, regardless of the type of drug being used.