Manitoba man raising awareness about fentanyl poisoning, after losing his son earlier this year

Two months ago, Joseph Fourre’s son Harlan died from fentanyl poisoning at the age of 31. Amid the grief he wants to share his son’s story as a cautionary tale for others.

“My son died. He didn’t deserve that kind of ending,” said Fourre. “He had his whole life ahead of him, and for some unknown reason, I could drive myself crazy trying to figure that night out, decided what he believed to be was ecstasy.”

Fourre says his son was out with friends in The Pas, Manitoba, about 625 kilometres north of Winnipeg, when he took the drug and died. It was a shock to the entire family as Harlan did not have a known history of abusing drugs.

“He wasn’t an addict. He didn’t have any addictive issues. He was out having a good time, something came up, was offered something and he thought he’d try it and he died,” he explained.

Fourre is a recovering addict himself. Now four years sober, he says his son knew the dangers of opioids and the impacts it had on him as an addict.

“I know in my heart that if he knew what he was getting that night, he would’ve said, ‘No thanks, I’m good.’ And those are his words.”

Fourre is now organizing a walk to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, to try and prevent other families from facing a similar tragedy.

Those words, ‘No thanks I’m good’ is the name Fourre is using for the awareness walk.

According to preliminary data from Manitoba’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 418 Manitobans died from drug-related deaths in 2022. Fourre hopes by sharing his son’s story, he can help reduce that number, and save lives.

“Just say no thanks I’m good. Stay alive. You are loved. You have a beautiful family that loves you. It’s time to stop with the recreational drug use because it’s not safe.”

The walk, organized by Fourre, with help from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and MKO, starts here at the Oodena Circle at The Forks on Sunday at Noon and will end with speeches at the Manitoba Legislative building.

“We need to end the stigma surrounding addiction,” said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick. “We must proactively address this crisis and provide our youth with the necessary guidance and support systems to make healthy choices. Through unity, understanding, and resilience, we will overcome the challenges posed by addiction.

“By encouraging open conversations and fostering a non-judgmental environment, we can create a society that supports and uplifts those struggling with substance abuse. It is incumbent upon all of us to denounce drug dealers and ensure the safety and well-being of our youth.”