Gig Harbor teen’s demise might have been attributable to laced marijuana at sleepover, household says

The Gig Harbor-area group is mourning the demise of 16-year-old Adrian Gunter, who family members described as “one in 1,000,000.”

Gunter died out of the blue on Sunday, Jan. 21, his mom, Tessa Gunter advised the Gateway.

He would have been 17 on March 30. He as soon as was a scholar at Gig Harbor High School, however had lately transitioned to Tacoma Community College on the Gig Harbor campus.

While hanging out with associates at a sleepover in Tacoma, it seems Adrian Gunter died from an unintentional overdose, his mother mentioned. She mentioned the opposite youngsters on the hangout have mentioned they had been smoking marijuana. She mentioned it might have been laced with one thing. They are nonetheless ready for the toxicology report.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office mentioned the reason for demise and method of demise are each pending.

Detective William Muse, a spokesperson with the Tacoma Police Department, confirmed particulars from the police report with the Gateway.

“A minor had allegedly engaged within the consumption of leisure medicine,” he mentioned. “Without any official info from the Medical Examiner’s Office, we can’t say a drug overdose occurred, or present an precise explanation for demise for the minor.”

Adrian Gunter was discovered unresponsive on the Tacoma dwelling and given CPR by individuals there, Muse mentioned. He was additionally given CPR by firefighting personnel after they arrived.

He was transported to an area hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless, Muse mentioned.

He added that the incident just isn’t being investigated as a murder presently.

Tessa Gunter mentioned her son “was not into medicine in any respect.” She believes if others had not equipped the medicine he would have by no means performed them.

Adrian Gunter was bold and searching ahead to beginning his new job as a camp counselor at a camp on Orcas Island, she mentioned.

He cherished the outside and being by the water. He’d taken two crusing courses, and he was in a wood boat constructing class final summer season.

He was additionally into vinyl records. One of his favourite locations to go to was the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. He additionally favored to check his abilities within the kitchen.

“He would simply pick random recipes, cook dinner it, and it could be good,” his mom mentioned.

Many individuals within the Gig Harbor space knew Adrian Gunter.

“He’d go round and discuss to everybody,” his mother mentioned. “I hope they may bear in mind him for his humorousness, his smile, and his foolish jokes,” his mother mentioned. “He’s at all times making jokes, and saved individuals entertained.”

The Peninsula School District despatched out a district-wide e mail to college students, households, and employees on Tuesday, Jan. 23 about Adrian Gunter’s passing.

“Our total faculty group is deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” the e-mail mentioned. “During this troublesome time, we prolong our heartfelt condolences to Adrian’s household and associates. Our ideas and prayers are with them as they navigate by way of this unimaginable grief.”

The e mail reminded the group that district counselors are a useful resource for college students and employees to make use of as wanted.

“When occasions like this occur, it isn’t uncommon for college students and employees to react with shock, disappointment, worry, anger, or different robust emotions,” the e-mail mentioned. “… We should all observe persistence and present respect for one another.”

The youth drug overdose disaster in Pierce County

Accidental drug overdose deaths in Pierce County are growing for younger individuals from the ages of 18 to 24, in line with the Tacoma-Pierce County Heath Department (TPCHD) web site.

In March, The News Tribune reported concerning the results of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well being in Pierce County.

Deaths from fentanyl and stimulants reminiscent of methamphetamine elevated dramatically in 2020 and 2021, The News Tribune reported, primarily based on a 2023 report by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department titled: “Pierce County Mental Health: A knowledge-informed perspective.”

Much like with entry to psychological well being care, the report mentioned that boundaries to drug remedy, counseling and assist worsened throughout the pandemic, The News Tribune reported.

“While we don’t but know the longer-term results of the pandemic and associated societal occasions, the information suggests many Pierce County youth are nonetheless coping with the occasions of the final two years,” the 2023 report mentioned.

Just 5 months in the past, Pierce County’s Behaviorial Health Policy Coordinator, Elizabeth Allen wrote about defending youth from fentanyl.

“From Jan. 2020 to June 2022, greater than 60 younger individuals below the age of 24 died from fentanyl in Pierce County,” she mentioned within the weblog put up. “And one other 342 younger individuals below 25 visited emergency departments for drug poisoning.”

TPCHD updates its overdose demise numbers and different traits every month on their web site, in line with spokesperson Kenny Via.

“Drug overdose is the main explanation for harm deaths in Pierce County,” Allen wrote. “It’s the second main explanation for harm deaths for individuals 15-24 years outdated.”

The Washington State Department of Heath took steps this 12 months to offer naxolone, often known as Narcan, in all public excessive colleges within the state.

“Narcan is a protected and efficient drugs that may reverse the dangerous results of an opioid overdose, together with one attributable to fentanyl,” in line with a DOH information launch. “Naloxone is obtainable in a nasal spray that may be given to anybody, any age, throughout a suspected opioid overdose and has no dangerous results even when opioids aren’t current within the system.”

TPCHD has additionally taken steps to attempt to stop drug overdoses.

“In late 2020, the Pierce County Council handed a one-tenth of 1% gross sales tax to assist enhance behavioral well being,” Allen wrote.

They have used a few of that cash for a youth fentanyl prevention marketing campaign.

The council partnered with the Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force and youth organizations to create fentanylfacts.org and ads to clarify the “risks of fentanyl.”

They’ve “run adverts on social media platforms younger individuals use usually like Twitch, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram,” in line with Allen’s weblog. “You may also come throughout adverts on billboards, TV, radio, streaming, on-line or in film theaters.”

Memorial and celebration of life

An in depth household good friend, Carolyn Young-McKee, is fundraising for a memorial at GHHS in honor of Adrian. Her son and Adrian had been shut associates, she mentioned.

As of Monday, the GoFundMe has raised $6,975 of its $7,500 purpose.

When requested what sort of memorial she had in thoughts and what the funds could be used for, Young-McKee mentioned she’ll be getting along with an artwork instructor at GHHS to speak design concepts for both “a significant sculpture or friendship benches.”

If the district gained’t enable the memorial on faculty property, Young-McKee mentioned they’ll discover putting the memorial some place else within the harbor.

If any funds are left over, she’d wish to create a school scholarship fund for GHHS college students.

“He was taken from us approach earlier than his time; Adrian had a lot to contribute to this world,” Young-McKee wrote in her GoFundMe put up. “His infectious smile brightened anybody’s day … . He was actually ‘one in 1,000,000’ and we’re all deeply devastated by shedding him.”

Young-McKee and her husband personal Tuell-McKee Funeral Home in Tacoma, Bremerton and Puyallup. They donated their providers, she advised the Gateway. Family and associates held a memorial service for Adrian Gunter Jan. 27 on the Tuell-McKee Funeral Home at 2215 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma.

Adrian Gunter is survived by his mom, his father Adam, stepmother Tonia, sister Michelle and brothers Eli, Christopher and Dalton.

News Tribune archives contributed to this report.