Five pain medications were found in linebacker Austin Box’s bloodstream after his death, the mixture of which was listed as the probable cause of his death, according to a toxicology report released by the state medical examiner.
The Oklahoma football player had pain medications oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone in his system when he died May 19 after being found unconscious at a friend’s house in El Reno.
The drug alprazolam, commonly known as Xanex, was found in Box’s system as well. Xanex is commonly used to handle anxiety disorders.
Box had an enlarged heart and a history of chronic pain, according to the report.
The cause of death was listed as pulmonary edema and aspiration pneumonia. Pulmonary edema occurs when the lungs of the body are filled with liquid and is commonly caused by heart failure, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website. Aspiration pneumonia is caused when the lungs breathe in foreign materials such as liquids or food.
The death was listed as an accident, according to the report.
BOX’S FAMILY SPEAKS OUT
Gail and Craig Box, Austin Box’s mother and father, said in a released statement their son was grateful and always willing to help out.
“His greatest fear was letting down other people, whether it was his teammates, coaches, friends or family,” the Box family said in the statement. “In his 22 years of life, he never thought to complain because he felt he had been given so much.”
Box’s parents used the statement to urge anyone using pain medication to think of the possible consequences. While Box’s death was an accident due to a mixture or overuse of pain medication, the Box family said the cause of his death will not diminish “the love and pride” they feel for their son.
HISTORY OF INJURIES
Box’s history of chronic pain could be due to his injuries on the field. In 2008, Box suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the Big 12 Championship. Box later suffered a back injury in 2010 that caused him to miss most of the season. Box returned for the final five games of the 2010 season, including OU’s 48-20 win against Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl.
When players like Box are injured or require the services of a doctor, the OU athletic department refers players to team physicians, athletic department spokesman Kenneth Mossman said in an email. When players accept the referral, the team’s training staff is kept informed of the treatments. Players who receive prescriptions are counseled on their proper use.
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
The El Reno Police Department is investigating Box’s death, police chief Ken Brown said.
The police department will use the toxicology report to determine if the drugs were prescribed to Box or if they were acquired some other way, Brown said.
The police department hopes to have results by the end of the week.