Pawn Stars Star Opens Up About Son’s Tragic Overdose Death

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Over a year after the tragic death of his son Adam, Rick Harrison, star of the reality television series ‘Pawn Stars,’ is grappling with grief and reflection. Adam, who battled substance abuse issues for many years, died from a fentanyl overdose on January 19, 2024.

During a preview of his upcoming appearance on the show ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger,’ Harrison opened up about the toll his son’s death has taken on him. ‘I think about him every day,’ he said, highlighting the pain of losing a child to addiction.

Harrison recounted the struggles he faced throughout Adam’s life as he sought help for his drug problems. ‘In his twenties, he had drug problems. I mean, God, I put him in rehab so many times, and every time he’d be doing great, and then he would just fall back,’ he recalled. ‘Apparently it wasn’t heroin he got — he ended up getting some fentanyl. It killed him.’

Reflecting on the challenges of parenting in such difficult circumstances, Harrison expressed deep regret and a constant sense of questioning. ‘The thing is, when you lose a kid, you second guess everything,’ he said. ‘Could I have done this? Could I have done that? There’s not a day I don’t think about him.’

An emotional Harrison shared how the ongoing sense of loss weighs heavily on him. ‘I know I did everything right. You just sit in your head, “What if I did this? What if I grabbed him and locked him in the back of my truck? What if I drove him to Oregon where he couldn’t get drugs?”‘

He recounted a moment when Adam “broke in” to their house, illustrating the turmoil Harrison felt during those trying times. ‘I figured maybe if we put him in jail for two months it’ll clean him out, but he just went straight back on it,’ he explained. ‘You try to give him tough love, but you never see the overdose coming.’

Despite the heartache, Harrison has focused on his remaining family. He has two other sons, Jake and Corey, and four grandchildren. ‘You have to appreciate what you got because it’s not always going to be there,’ he said. ‘I talk to all my kids on the phone almost every day. I love my kids and grandkids. You enjoy life.’

Harrison shared insights on finding happiness amidst loss. ‘It is easy to enjoy life. Just don’t be around the people that are miserable and enjoy life with your family and your friends. It’s really not that hard to be happy.’

The interview is set to air this weekend as part of ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger,’ bringing Harrison’s poignant story to a wider audience. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.