A Bridgeport mother is turning her private grief into a public plea during Overdose Awareness Month.

Hortensia Rengifo's son, 32-year-old Rafael Casasnovas, died of a fentanyl overdose on Aug. 9, 2022.

She urges everyone to buy a box of Narcan nasal spray, which is available over the counter without a prescription.

"It's so important that families have Narcan at the house so they don't go through the pain that we have," Rengifo said.

She adds that people often don't recognize the signs of someone who may be suffering from opioid effects.