A mom of a teen who died from a fentanyl overdose is speaking out after an unfortunate situation unfolded Tuesday at a Webber Falls school in Muskogee County.
Two students reportedly "unintentionally" overdosed on campus from an unknown substance and were taken to a local hospital.
Five additional students were also transported to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
In 2021, a Broken Arrow teen died from an accidental fentanyl overdose, thinking he had taken a Percocet.
Cole Brown, 18, is described by his mother as just like any other teenager.
Rebekah Purcell says her son struggled with some things internally, and turned to drugs instead of talking about them.
She now works with a group that advocates for all teens to learn about the dangers of experimenting with drugs.
"I am with a group called Families Supporting Families and we have been really pushing to do free assemblies in schools. I feel like educating our youth is really really important on what's really going on out there. Drugs are no longer like the drugs from the 60s," Purcell said. "Let's not wait until there's a devastating moment where a bunch of kids are dying in schools."
Purcell says Families Supporting Families also works to get Narcan into the schools they visit, that way the life-saving drug is on hand in case of an emergency.
To learn more or contact FSF about speaking at a school assembly, email okdihawareness@gmail.com.