Health & Fitness

Eric Bolling, Ex-Fox News Anchor, Speaks Of Son's Overdose Death

Eric Bolling Jr., whose father is from Demarest, died of an accidental drug overdose, including opioids, his father previously announced.

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A former Fox News anchor is speaking out about the dangers of opioids after his son died from an opioid overdose last year.

Eric Bolling's son, Eric Bolling Jr., died Sept. 8. The elder Bolling is from Demarest and his son was a student in Colorado when his body was found. Bolling announced his son's death on Twitter.

Bolling Jr., 19, died of "mixed drug intoxication," according to the Boulder County coroner's office, NJ.com reported, citing the autopsy report. He died in his bed with the covers over him; there was no suicide note and no drug paraphernalia or pill bottles near the body, TMZ.com reported.

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Bolling has talked with others who have lost a family member to opioids or who have an addict in their family. There is one underlying issue that he said parents need to understand: Not-my-kid syndrome.

"Not-my-kid syndrome is terrible. Not-my-kid syndrome is a killer because you just don't know. It could very well be your kid," Bolling said in an interview with IRL Red that was posted on Facebook. "So us all a favor. Do yourselves a favor. Do your family a favor, do your children a favor. Have the discussion with them. Do it again and again. Get involved in their lives."

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Bolling said he and his wife Adrienne were "overwhelmed" by the love and support they received following their son's death. Since then, they have communicated with parents and others who may know someone struggling with opioid addiction.

"What I have done since then is to talk about the stories of people who are worried about a loved one, worried about a child, a brother, a sister, a mother, a co-worker, a friend," Bolling said. It helps to talk about it, and it helps to find resources for that help."

Photo: Eric Bolling attends the Capitol File 58th Presidential Inauguration Reception at Fiola Mare on January 19, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capitol File Magazine)

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