Former Eight Is Enough child star Adam Rich’s cause of death has been ruled as an accidental fentanyl overdose after he was found dead in January at the age of 54.

The autopsy report showed that in addition to this, Rich had lorazepam and non-toxic levels of alcohol in his system when he died. The autopsy also noted that Rich’s body was in a “mild decomposition” stage. 

When the star was found on January 8 in his L.A. house, police reported that they discovered a white powder and had already suspected that overdose was the cause of death. 

Rich was best known for starring as Nicholas Bradford in the TV series Eight Is Enough. He also acted in Code Red, Dungeons & Dragons, The Devil and Max Devlin, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and more.

He retired from acting in the 1980s as he revealed that he disliked the attention and fame he was receiving. 

Before his death, Rich had been struggling with drug abuse for years. He was arrested in 1991 for burglarizing a pharmacy and while the details of the arrest were not released, it was suspected that drugs were involved. His co-star who played his father on Eight Is Enough, Dick Van Patten, bailed him out.

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In 2002 he was arrested again for a DUI after taking drugs and driving on a closed highway lane where he almost hit a police car. 

Since these incidents, Rich has been in rehab several times trying to fight his addiction. 

In 2022, Rich celebrated his seven-year sobriety on Twitter. In the tweet, he admitted to, “Arrests, 20’ahem rehabs (not all voluntary;), 3-4 OD’s (depending on who you ask!), a couple 5150’s… & countless detoxes & relapses.”

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