The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office’s autopsy of University student Benjamin Balser revealed his death was the result of “combined effects of cocaethylene, alprazolam and alcohol.” The office determined Balser’s death was accidental.
Alprazolam is commonly sold as Xanax. Cocaethylene is a chemical that develops in the liver as the result of using alcohol and cocaine concurrently.
Balser was found dead in his off-campus apartment over the weekend of Oct. 13. He was the third University student to have died in the fall 2017 semester.