Autopsy results released by the Pima County medical examiner’s office showed that UA sophomore Wilson Forrester died from an accidental overdose.
Forrester, a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was found dead inside his fraternity house on April 2. The medical examiner determined that alcohol, the painkiller oxycodone and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax were the cause of his overdose.
While none of the drugs found in his system were enough to be fatal, it was the combination that led to Forrester’s death.
“”It is critically important to me that people, especially young people, understand the exact cause of Wilson’s death,”” wrote Chip Forrester, his father and chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, in a statement. “”Teenagers and young adults must begin to comprehend that they are playing with fire when they mix even casual amounts of prescription drugs and alcohol.””
Chip Forrester called on the UA to take further preventative measures to curb alcohol and drug abuse in the campus Greek Life system.
“”From the numerous conversations that I have had with Wilson’s fraternity brothers and others on campus, it is clear to me that there is a growing problem at the University of Arizona that is a real threat to the lives of students,”” Chip Forrester wrote in the statement. “”While we cannot turn back the clock on my son’s tragedy, we can hopefully seize this moment to prevent others from the same fate.””
In the statement, Chip Forrester was critical of the UA’s classification as a “”party school”” and called on UA administrators to take a more active role in lessening this kind of behavior on campus.
“”One more needless death is too many,”” Chip Forrester wrote. “”And another student’s life is at risk —that we know for sure.””