SCSU Student's Cause Of Death Released: Report

NEW HAVEN, CT — Last month, Southern Connecticut State University student Ray Lucas was found dead in his campus apartment and his cause of death has been determined by the state Chief's Medical Examiner Officer.

Lucas, a junior sports management major from New Jersey, died of an an accidental overdose from a substance similar to the opioid fentanyl, Fox 61 reports. University officials say they are educating students about the dangers of drugs and how to seek help.

Lucas was found dead in his campus apartment during the first weekend of August. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.)

At the time of his death SCSU President Joe Bertolino said, via Fox 61 that, “Ray was a vibrant and well-liked member of the campus community. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his family and friends on this untimely loss.”

Connecticut is sadly on pace for more than 1,000 overdose deaths in 2017. From January to June there were a total of 539 overdoses that weren't purely caused by alcohol. The vast majority involve some kind of opioid.

At the current rate there will be 1,078 overdoses by year's end. That would represent an increase of 18 percent from 917 in 2016. There were 729 in 2015. Overdose deaths have skyrocketed from 357 in 2012.

"The vast majority of these continue to be due to the abuse of opioids" said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill. "Fentanyl has surpassed heroin as the most common opioid of abuse."

See related: CT Heroin Epidemic: Interactive Map Of Deaths By Town

With reporting by Rich Scinto, Patch Editor