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Student dead after possible overdose at Queen Creek treatment center for boys; academy says family provided the drugs

Officials are investigating the death of a 16-year-old student at Canyon State Academy as a possible overdose.

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz — A 16-year-old student is dead after what officials are investigating as a possible overdose Monday night, authorities said. Officials at the private residential treatment center for boys said two other students were hospitalized as a precaution, and that the drugs might have been provided by the deceased teen's family.

Queen Creek fire and police responded to Canyon State Academy around 10:40 p.m. for reports that a student was having a medical emergency.

Three students were quickly taken to a local hospital. According to officials, one of those students died at the hospital.

The two other students were roommates of the deceased and had been taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. They were later released, center officials said in a statement on Tuesday.

In the same statement, the center said that "early sources suggest the substances were supplied by the deceased youth’s family."

The academy also added: "The presence of illegal drugs within the community continues to be a threat for all youth, and any drug-related loss of life is tragic."

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Authorities said that the situation is being investigated as a possible overdose, but have not shared any further information. At this time, it is not known what the student overdosed on.

It's not the first death of a teen at Canyon State Academy. In 2020, a 17-year-old student was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive at the school.

Documents obtained by 12News reveal Canyon State Academy first began operations in 2000. Rite of Passage, its parent company, has two other locations in the state. As of 2019, Rite of Passage operates in 15 states including Arizona.

The investigation remains ongoing, and details are subject to change. Stay with 12News as we continue to update this story with more information.

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