During this year’s Red Ribbon Week, classrooms across Oklahoma will hear the heartbreaking yet hopeful stories of two mothers who lost children to fentanyl. Karla Carlock and Melissa Baptiste travel to schools to warn students about the lethal risks of the drug and to explain the new state mandate that teaches fentanyl awareness from sixth grade onward.
Personal loss fuels a public warning
Carlock’s 19‑year‑old daughter, Rain, was a student at Cameron University studying early childhood education when she died after taking a pill she thought was Xanax. An autopsy later revealed the pill was laced with fentanyl. “She was 19 years old, and she was a student at Cameron University,” Carlock said. “The next day I got a call that they found her dead in bed.”
Baptiste’s son, Jeffrey, died in 2022 from a fentanyl‑related overdose. “My two high‑school kids found their brother, and they had no idea what was going on or how to fix or help him,” Baptiste recalled. Both mothers say their grief has become a mission to protect other families.
Rain’s Law brings fentanyl education to schools
In response to Carlock’s loss, Oklahoma legislators passed “Rain’s Law,” which requires schools to provide fentanyl education to students in grades six through twelve. The law also includes information about Narcan, how to recognize overdose signs, and how to call for help safely.
“We got Rain’s Law passed, and it requires fentanyl education in grades six through 12. So, she’s teaching, just in a different way,” Carlock said. Baptiste added that the law’s Good Samaritan provision protects anyone who calls for emergency assistance, encouraging prompt help without fear of legal repercussions.
Students respond to the message
Both mothers report that their presentations are resonating. “One little girl came up to me and said, ‘I lost my sister that way.’ And another little boy said, ‘I just want to say thank you. Can I give you a hug?’” Carlock said.
The mothers emphasize that a single decision can change a life. “You matter. Your life matters, and no matter what you’re going through right now, there’s still hope,” Carlock told students.
Year‑round outreach
Carlock and Baptiste are available to visit schools throughout the year, offering a personal perspective that statistics alone cannot provide. Their goal is to ensure that every student understands the real danger of fentanyl and knows how to act if they or a friend is in danger.
Red Ribbon Week, traditionally focused on drug‑free lifestyles, now includes a concrete educational component mandated by state law, giving Oklahoma’s youth a clearer, safer path forward.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
