Lil Peep | Xanax & Fentanyl Overdose Death

Emo-rapper Lil Peep was known for his hip-hop, pop-punk, and emo-rap songs. He was seen as a pioneer in the underground music scene, and was especially popular among those who saw themselves as outsiders.

Unfortunately, Lil Peep’s career was cut short when he died of an accidental overdose during the 2017 tour for his debut album, Come Over When You’re Sober.

How Did Lil Peep Die?

Lil Peep died on November 15, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. According to the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, his cause of death was an accidental overdose of fentanyl and Xanax. 

The 21-year-old was found dead on his tour bus when his tour manager went to check on him for that night’s performance. When she found him unresponsive and not breathing, she performed CPR, but Lil Peep was pronounced dead once the medics arrived.

Besides Xanax and fentanyl, the toxicology report also showed signs of marijuana, cocaine, and other opioids such as tramadol in his system.

About Lil Peep

Lil Peep was born Gustav Åhr on November 1, 1996, in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Liza Womack and Karl Johan Åhr. 

The family moved to Long Beach, New York before his fifth birthday and that was where his brother Karl “Oskar” Ahr was born. While Åhr and his brother were born in the US, they both received Swedish citizenship through their Swedish father.

His parents separated in 2012 when Åhr was 15, and it was then that he began experiencing anxiety and started to self-medicate. 

Following the split between his parents, Åhr moved with his mother and older brother to another part of Long Beach, where he would record many of his most popular emo rap songs.

In 2016, Åhr moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career under the stage name Lil Peep, but he had been releasing music for at least a year or two before that. He started by sharing his music on YouTube and SoundCloud and then built up a following from there.

In the last months of his life, he also modeled for the Vlone clothing line.

After Death

Many people in the music industry paid tribute to the rapper after his death including Diplo, Pete Wentz, and Post Malone.

In 2019, Lil Peep’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against First Access Entertainment (FAE), the management agency that signed Lil Peep. The lawsuit included his tour manager Belinda Mercer and his former manager, Chase Ortega. 

She accused them of “negligence and other breaches of contract which contributed to his death in 2017 of an accidental drug overdose.” She believes that FAE provided access to the drugs that led to Lil Peep’s death.

A documentary about Lil Peep’s life, titled Everybody’s Everything, also came out in 2019.

Lil Peep’s History Of Substance Abuse

Lil Peep started using substances at the age of 15 when he was self-medicating with marijuana and Xanax. He struggled with depression and bipolar disorder and used substances to try and deal with those mental health issues. 

He was very open about his mental health issues and his drug use and addiction. He struggled with addiction to marijuana, alcohol, Xanax, and cocaine, and many of his songs mention those substances.

Did Lil Peep Attend Addiction Treatment?

Lil Peep never sought out or received addiction treatment during his lifetime, which is unfortunate. Professional rehab programs can help pave the way for lasting recovery.

Recovery Is Possible

Lil Peep was only 21 when he passed away, and his tragic death is an unfortunate reminder of the dangers of opioid abuse and addiction. However, recovery from opioid addiction is possible with the right tools and support system.

To learn how we help individuals and families manage opioid addiction, including medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapy, please contact us today.