Seminole County

‘Totally heartbreaking’: Central Florida families work to educate on dangers of fentanyl

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Every day, families mourn the unexpected deaths of loved ones due to them being unknowingly exposed to fentanyl.

Three Central Florida families sat down with Channel 9′s Seminole County reporter Jeff Levkulich to talk about the loss of their children in the hopes that their stories will other lives before its too late.

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Ed Sweat Jr., Ari Osteen and Cord Davis died after they unknowingly were given fentanyl. Their three families are now part of PARS, or Project Addiction Reversing The Stigma

They are now trying to save others by telling their stories in the hopes that other families don’t have to experience what they are going through.

WATCH: What is Fentanyl?

Davis’ mother now speaks to groups of students about the dangers of drugs at University of Central Florida and other schools. She believes more education is needed on the subject and passes out Narcan to people who need it.

“It is totally heartbreaking, but we need to work on mental health in Florida and in this country,” she said. “We need to advocate for children.”

READ: MBI agents seize $300K worth of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone

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Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.