Avery Atkins | MDMA Overdose Death

Avery Atkins was an American football player for the Florida Gators. He passed away on June 5, 2007, from an MDMA (ecstasy) overdose.

How Avery Atkins Died

On Thursday morning, July 5, 2007, in Port Orange, Florida, Avery Atkins was found dead in the car of his aunt’s garage. The official cause of death for Atkins was a drug overdose.

He was taken to Halifax Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. After an autopsy of the 20-year-old was performed, it was determined he had high levels of ecstasy and carbon monoxide in his body.

The garage doors were open when his body was found. The Florida police ruled Atkins’ death not as a suicide, but an accidental overdose due to the amount of MDMA consumed.

About Avery Atkins

Avery Atkins was born on May 29, 1987, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He continued to live in Florida, eventually attending Mainland High School.

At Mainland High School, Atkins found his love of football and became the All-State running back and cornerback for the football team. After exposing his talent on the field during high school, Atkins became regarded as a four-star recruit.

College Football Career

Although Atkins received numerous offers from various colleges and universities, including Florida State, Miami, Auburn, and South Carolina, he ultimately chose to enroll at the University of Florida.

Atkins’ skills were well-known and he was even part of Urban Meyer’s first recruiting class as a member of the Florida Gators. As a freshman, he performed incredibly well during a Florida versus Florida State game in which he famously intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.

Despite receiving a scholarship for his time at the school, in the summer of 2006, he left the team shortly after being charged with domestic battery against the mother of his child.

According to The Gainesville Sun, Atkins then attended Bethune-Cookman University. At Bethune-Cookman College (B-CC) he played three games before leaving, despite being the projected starter for the team.

Avery Atkins’ History Of Substance Abuse

Three days prior to his death, Atkins was arrested in Ormond Beach for possession of crack cocaine. This was Atkins’ third arrest within a three-month period.

Throughout his life, Atkins struggled with drug use. Excessive drug abuse and addiction may have led to domestic violence incidents and other problems he faced.

When taken in high doses, MDMA and other hallucinogens can create seizures, cardiac events, and other life-threatening health problems.

Did Avery Atkins Attend Addiction Treatment?

Unfortunately, there are no known attempts for treatment regarding Atkins. After his death, football coaches, family members, and others who knew him stated that many had tried to reach out to Atkins to help him come back to school.

Those who knew him stated, according to the Gainesville Sun, that Atkins may have benefited from a structured environment at school. However, Atkins did not receive addiction treatment.

Recovery Is Possible

Avery Atkins never attended drug rehab, but professional services and support are known to help young people struggling with drug use and other mental health problems.

In fact, recovery is possible when you access a program that offers evidence-based services like behavioral therapy, group therapy, peer support, and mental health counseling.

To learn how we treat drug addiction in both inpatient and outpatient treatment settings, please contact us today.