MONTHS after the death of Tyler Sanders, officials reported that the18-year-old actor’s cause of death was fentanyl, a strong opioid drug that is usually used for treatment of severe pain.

It was on June 16 when the teenager was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home and later pronounced dead at the scene.  

An autopsy later said his death was accidental.

Sanders’ parents recently released a statement to talk about what happened to their son, US media reports said. 

The reports quoted David Sanders, Tyler’s father, as saying that his son was an “ambitious and hard-working actor who was dealing with deep and persistent depression.”

David said his son was actively seeking treatment for his depression, but still struggled to find relief.

“Tyler fell into drug use, not as a way to have fun socially, but rather as an attempt to overcome his profound mental health struggle,” he said. 

He also said he decided to speak out about his son’s story “in hopes of furthering the conversation around this pervasive issue.”

Ginger Sanders, Tyler’s mother, said it was “incredibly difficult” to lose her son to fentanyl. They never thought it could happen to them, she said.

“Tyler had a strong support system and still could not overcome his persistent depression,” he said in her statement. 

She also said that while her son fought his battles, he wanted to make sure no one felt as he did. 

“It is our sincere prayer that our story might save others,” she said. 

Tyler Sanders was best known for “9-1-1: Lone Star” and “Fear of the Walking Dead,” which aired in 2019. 

His last movie appearance was in “The Price We Pay,” where he played “Danny” and starred alongside Stephen Dorff, Emil Hirsch, and Gigi Zumbado. 

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is typically used to treat severe pain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. 

The CDC noted that it could be “diverted for misuse and abuse in the United States.”

Banner courtesy of Instagram: @tylersanders