A toxicology report is being conducted for a former student who died Feb. 1 in Chico.
Reid H. Engelbrecht, 19, was found dead in his Salem Street apartment by his friends, who became suspicious when Engelbrecht did not pick up his phone, said Sgt. Rob Merrifield of the Chico Police Department.
When no one answered the door, the two friends entered the apartment through the back entrance and found Engelbrecht, Merrifield said.
There was evidence of drug use, including a syringe and needle still in his arm, he said.
The final determination of Engelbrecht’s death is dependent upon the pending toxicology report, Merrifield said. The results of the report will be ready in approximately eight to 10 weeks.
Engelbrecht enrolled at Chico State in the fall 2008 semester and was last enrolled in the fall 2009 semester, Merrifield said. Engelbrecht was from San Diego.
His death comes within a few weeks of the release of 21-year-old Chico State student Gina Maggio’s toxicology report. The report revealed Maggio’s death was the result of a combination of prescription and illicit drugs.
Incidents like this are damaging to the college community’s morale, said Lt. Mike O’Brien of the Chico Police Department.
“Anytime someone that young dies, it’s tragic,” he said. “As a parent, I can’t imagine that happening.”
Many students do not realize how dangerous drugs can be, said Joe Wills, director of public affairs and publications at Chico State.
“The combination of drugs is becoming a serious issue,” he said.
It may be impossible to single-handedly keep students from abusing drugs, but increased awareness and vigilance among students and community members is important, said President Paul Zingg in a letter issued to the campus community.
“None of us can overstate the tremendous toll drug and alcohol abuse is taking on our society and, more specifically, the communities in which we live,” he said.
The noticeable rise in deaths resulting from drug use may be because students in college do not have the same level of supervision as they do at home, said Theresa Fagouri, program coordinator for the Campus Alcohol & Drug Education Center.
“Addiction is not something to play around with,” she said. “These are diseases that need to be treated.”
There has been a rise in students visiting the CADEC offices in the last few months, Fagouri said. More visits may be the result of people seeing their friends die.
This increase is positive because students are willing to open up and receive help in order to change, she said.
With drug-related deaths becoming more prevalent, students need to speak up, Fagouri said.
“If you suspect that someone is recreationally using drugs, just say something,” she said. “Just do something.”
CADEC is located in Student Services Center Room 190 and has an open door policy.
Tegan Silva can be reached at
tsilva@theorion.com
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