News

Actions

Utah high school hockey team dedicating games to teammate who died after overdose

Posted at 12:40 PM, May 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-27 10:44:56-04

BOUNTIFUL, Utah – Family and friends are inviting all who loved their son to a vigil in memory of 17-year-old Cade Galbraith who died after an overdose last week.

The memorial starts at 8 p.m. Saturday on the large grass area of Woodland Park in Farmington, Utah.

Two other teens were sent to the hospital for allegedly overdosing on LSD as well but they have since been released.

School officials said Viewmont has extra grief counselors at the school Tuesday to help students cope with the situation.

The Viewmont High hockey team is dedicating three games to Galbraith, their former team member, and all are invited.

The games are Tuesday evening at Steiner Ice at the University of Utah; the first starts at 6:45 p.m. with the following games at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Galbraith’s family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help with medical and funeral expenses.

The Cade’s family sent Fox 13 this statement:

“Our son Cade was a quiet and gentle kid who loved riding motorcycles in the desert, playing video games with his friends and going to rock concerts with his father and we loved him very much. His senseless and tragic death has left our family shocked and grief stricken. The reverberations from this terrible event extend throughout our community, and we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support that we have received.

Please talk to your children about the dangers of drugs. Even one time use can have permanent consequences, and there is no way of knowing what substances you are actually ingesting, no matter what you are told.

The family is hosting a candlelight vigil to celebrate his life and mourn his death. All who loved Cade are invited to attend. “

Viewmont High principal Dan Linford sent this letter to parents:

Dear Viewmont Parents,

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our students, Cade Galbraith.  Cade was in the 11th grade.  He was a member of the hockey team and had many friends at Viewmont High.  Cade died as a result of an accidental drug overdose on Friday night.  It is still uncertain what type of drug caused Cade’s death. I have spoken to Cade’s family, and they encourage each of us to speak with our children directly and specifically about drug use in the hope thatother’s might learn from their loss and avoid a similar tragedy.

A team of district grief and loss counselors will be at Viewmont on Tuesday and will be available for students who are struggling or would like to talk.  We encourage students to look after their friends and if they see someone struggling to bring them to the counselors.  Let’s take care of one another.

Our hearts go out to the Galbraith family and those affected by this great loss.

Sincerely,
Dan Linford
Principal
Viewmont High School

According to a DEA fact sheet, “LSD is a potent hallucinogen that has a high potential for abuse, but currently has no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.”

The fact sheet states users may experience visual changes and extreme shifts in mood as well as distorted depth and time perception and other visual hallucinations.

Overdose effects can include, “Longer, more intense ‘trip’ episodes, psychosis, and possible death,” according to the fact sheet.