Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins had ketamine in system, ‘drank heavily’ before death, autopsy says

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Dwayne Haskins’ autopsy report, released Monday, indicated that the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback had ketamine in his system and that his blood-alcohol concentration was more than twice the state’s legal limit at the time of his April 9 death in South Florida.

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According to WPXI-TV, the autopsy concluded that Haskins, 24, “drank heavily” and ingested the Schedule III non-narcotic drug, regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, in the hours before he was fatally struck by a dump truck on Interstate 595.

A spokesperson from the Florida Highway Patrol reportedly confirmed Haskins was walking along the interstate and was hit by oncoming traffic while attempting to cross the highway after his car ran out of gas, WPXI reported.

According to USA Today, the medical examiner’s office determined that Haskins had a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0.20% at the time of his autopsy. Florida’s legal limit is 0.08%.

Per the autopsy report, Haskins died from “multiple blunt force injuries,” and his death was ruled accidental, WPXI reported.

Although ketamine has legitimate medical uses, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have stated that the substance can be abused for its hallucinogenic and seducing properties, noting that the drug “distorts perceptions, causes temporary paralysis, and dangerously slows breathing, potentially shutting down body systems and leading to cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.”

According to USA Today, the toxicology report detected ketamine in Haskins’ urine at the time of his death, but no drugs were detected in his blood.

The Steelers released a statement saying that the organization is aware of the medical report and has no comment, WPXI reported.

Haskins, a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2019, served as the Steelers’ backup quarterback during the 2021 NFL season. Haskins started 13 games in two seasons for Washington before joining the Steelers as a free agent.

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