Webbers Falls students involved in overdose incident have been released from the hospital

WEBBERS FALLS, Okla. — UPDATE | 02/08/2023, 3:18 p.m.: The superintendent of Webbers Falls Public Schools, Chris Whelan has confirmed that all students have been released from the hospital. No further details on the condition of each student have been released by the school at this time.

Two Webbers Falls students unintentionally overdosed on an unknown substance on Tuesday, according to the school district.

Webbers Falls Police Chief Wayne Cartwright said the students involved in the overdose were using a vape pen with THC that was laced with an opioid.

Cartwright said they are sending the two substances to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation lab in Tahlequah for further testing.

Police are also investigating where the drugs came from and may have developed some leads.

This comes after the Superintendent of Webbers Falls Public Schools, Chris Whelan, published a statement online after the incident.

“Webbers Falls School takes the safety of our students very seriously. Unfortunately, today a situation occurred on our campus where two students unintentionally overdosed on an unknown substance,” the statement said. “In addition to the two students, we had five more students transported for precautionary reasons. School staff immediately responded by rendering first aid and calling 911 for medical assistance from several agencies in our area.”

“The students have been transferred to a local hospital for further evaluation and were coherent and responsive. Outside counseling services will be on site for students and staff if needed,” the statement continued. “We will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the law enforcement to make sure this situation is investigated. Please keep these students and our school in your prayers.”

Late Tuesday afternoon, FOX23 learned all five students had been released from the hospital and the two others are expected to recover.

One Webbers Falls High School parent, Christy McGuire, shared her reaction.

“My daughter is actually a freshman in Webbers Falls and she was actually in the classroom when this all happened,” she explained. “When she called she was just really upset, she called and she said, ‘Mom you just need to pray.’ And so as parents and as adults, and as this community, I’ve lived in my entire life, I just choose to love on these children and just to pray for them and just lift them up in any way that we possibly can.”

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