Former UConn standout Stanley Robinson died from an accidental opioid overdose, the Jefferson County Coroner told A Dime Back. The cause of death is officially listed as “fentanyl toxicity.”
Robinson was found unresponsive in his Birmingham, AL home on July 22. He was 32 years old.
Since his passing, remembrance of Robinson has been vast and glowing. His friends, coaches and former teammates all speak of a genial Robinson with a beaming smile and without a trace of malice or cynicism. Fans remember his transcendent athleticism, his ability to transform an ordinary moment into an extraordinary one.
Yet former coach Jim Calhoun alluded to a challenging life for Robinson away from the court. “He was just a really, really sweet kid,” Calhoun told the Hartford Courant. “The world was harsh for him, because they weren’t all like Stanley Robinson. He was such a caring, giving person.”
“Sticks just couldn’t ever get the break he needed… He was a gentle soul, too gentle for this world,” Calhoun said to the New Haven Register.
Across the country, data shows the COVID-19 pandemic is compounding the effects of America’s opioid crisis. Those with substance abuse problems have struggled to find treatment options and the widespread stress, isolation and uncertainty has left many in recovery prone to relapse. With a healthcare system struggling to manage a pandemic, resources for mental health and addiction options are limited, leading to significant spikes in opioid overdoses.
Overdoses have risen an estimated 18 percent nationally since the pandemic began. The growing prevalence of fentanyl in illicit opioids is making overdoses more deadly.
Robinson’s death is a tragedy, and his loss will continue to reverberate through those that knew him and followed his career. Similar tragedies occur in every state in this nation, in every community, affecting tens of thousands of families each year. Robinson — a former star athlete, a father and an archetype for a happy warrior on the court and in the locker room — illustrates that addiction doesn’t have a template.
With the pandemic largely pushing the opioid crisis out of the news, and the forced isolation of quarantine, addiction for some can feel devastatingly lonely. But help is available: visit findtreatment.gov or this drugabuse.gov page for links to multiple mental health and addiction resources that can help you or a loved one find appropriate treatment options. You can also call this toll-free number: (800) 662-4357.
