The number of suspected drug-related deaths in Manitoba in the first half of 2025 was the lowest mid-year total since 2021, bringing cautious optimism while the province continues to grapple with a crisis.

Manitoba recorded 203 suspected overdose deaths between Jan. 1 and June 30, down from 307 during the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“It’s still high. I was told when we see a decrease like that, it’s a moment in time and it’s not a trend yet,” said Joseph Fourre, an activist whose 31-year-old son, Harlan, died after taking a drug laced with fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid, in 2023.

“I’m glad to see a slight decrease in the numbers. We’ve still got a long way to go before we’ve got this under control.”

The prelimi

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