Bryce Beekman | Promethazine & Fentanyl Overdose Death

Defensive back Bryce Beekman played for Washington State University and was known for how much potential he showed on and off the field. 

Unfortunately, his career as an athlete was cut short when he died of an accidental overdose on March 23, 2020, in Pullman, Washington. He was 22.

How Did Bryce Beekman Die?

According to the Whitman County coroner Annie Pillers, Bryce Beekman’s cause of death was accidental acute intoxication of fentanyl and promethazine. Fentanyl is a potent opioid painkiller and promethazine is an anti-allergy medication.

According to Pullman police chief Gary Jenkins, the Pullman police were called to Beekman’s apartment because he was having breathing problems. However, by the time first responders got there, Beekman was already dead.

At first, the Whitman County Coroner’s Office was expected to take 2-3 months to determine the cause of Beekman’s death but the case was expedited and ended up taking 31 days.

About Bryce Beekman

Bryce A. Beekman was born on November 26, 1997 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After playing sports for most of his life in Wisconsin, he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his mother and younger brother in August 2015. He spent his senior year there playing football and basketball and graduated from Scotland Magnet High School in 2016.

Football Career

In January 2019, Beekman started playing college football as a redshirt senior for the Cougars at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington. He started every football game during his last season at WSU, and he ranked fifth on the team with 60 tackles and one interception. 

The 22-year-old Washington State football player also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences in the spring of 2020.

After his death, Beekman’s family put out a statement about his passing and how they were working with police to “ultimately help prevent this from happening again to anyone else’s son or daughter.”

Bryce Beekman’s History Of Substance Abuse

Bryce Beekman had no known history of addiction or drug use before the event that led to his death. Considering the manner of death was ruled accidental, Beekman likely took the two drugs for allergies and pain, and drug abuse probably didn’t factor into his death. 

Unfortunately, the two drugs negatively interact and that may have led to the breathing problems that ultimately took his life.

Did Bryce Beekman Attend Addiction Treatment?

Since it doesn’t appear that Beekman had issues with drug abuse and/or addiction, he likely never sought out drug rehab.

Recovery Is Possible

Although Bryce Beekman never lived with addiction, the deadly combination of promethazine and fentanyl claimed his life.

The misuse of prescription drugs increases the risk of both overdose and addiction, but recovery is possible with a combination of therapy, professional services, and ongoing peer support.

To learn how we treat prescription drug addiction, please contact us today.