16-Year-Old Gig Harbor Teen Died from Acute and Accidental Overdose at Sleepover in Pierce County as per Reports
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has disclosed the cause and manner of death of a 16-year-old boy from Gig Harbor who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.
Adrian Gunter died after an accidental overdose of “acute tramadol and cyclobenzaprine” at a stay with friends in Tacoma on Jan. 21, as reported by the Medical Examiner.
Tramadol is an analgesic used for pain management post-surgeries, while cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant, as stated by medlineplus.gov and FDA.gov.
Gunter was discovered unconscious at the Tacoma residence and received CPR from individuals there, according to William Muse, a spokesperson for the Tacoma Police Department.
He mentioned that Gunter also received CPR from firefighting personnel upon their arrival. He was taken to a nearby hospital and declared deceased.
Gunter’s family suspected that he may have died from using marijuana that could have been contaminated. Tessa Gunter, Adrian’s mother, informed a local news source that the other children at the party admitted to smoking. The family awaited the toxicology report.
Tessa Gunter, Gunter’s mother, expressed increased confusion during an interview with the Gateway on Wednesday.
Recently, detectives informed her that the other males at the sleepover confessed to accessing a medication cabinet that night.
Tessa Gunter advised parents to be cautious about the items they keep accessible when hosting children, particularly teenagers, to prevent any potential issues.
The Gateway inquired about the current status of Muse’s inquiry on February 27th. Muse stated that the case is still ongoing and under active investigation. “If there is evidence of a crime, we will send the case to the Prosecutor’s Office for review,” stated Muse.
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Muse stated that detectives had not yet determined whether to refer the case to the prosecutor’s office.
Drug overdose fatalities among individuals aged 18 to 24 are on the rise in Pierce County, as reported by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) website.
Elizabeth Allen, Pierce County’s Behavioral Health Policy Coordinator, stated in a recent blog that drug overdose is the primary cause of injury deaths in Pierce County. “It is the second most common cause of fatal injuries among individuals aged 15-24.”
