For fans of "Pawn Stars" Rick Harrison is like family. We have watched him wheel and deal in his Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for years. But recently Rick shared something deeply personal and incredibly sad. He is opening up about the loss of his son Adam who passed away from a drug overdose last year. It is a raw and emotional story and Rick's honesty is really touching.
'Think About Him Every Day': Rick Harrison's Honest Grief One Year After Adam's Tragic Passing
In a new interview on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger" Rick spoke about Adam's death and it is clear the pain is still very real. Adam was just 39 when he died in January 2024 from a fentanyl overdose . Rick admitted that not a single day goes by when he doesn't think about his son. He shared that Adam had struggled with drug addiction for years especially in his twenties.
Rick revealed "In his 20s he had drug problems. I mean God I put him in rehab so many times". Like many families facing addiction they tried everything. Rehab tough love you name it. Rick said "every time he’d be doing great and then he would just fall back." He explained that leading up to Adam’s death things "got really really bad." It is a heartbreaking reminder of how relentless and unforgiving addiction can be.
'Second Guessing Everything': Rick Asks 'What If' After Son's Overdose
losing a child is unimaginable and Rick captured the feeling perfectly when he said "when you lose a kid you second guess fing everything." He is haunted by "what if" scenarios. "Could I have done this? Could I have done this?" These questions constantly run through his mind. He even wonders about drastic measures like "What if I just grabbed him fing locked him in the back of my truck drove him to Oregon and put him over to where he couldn't get [drugs]?"
Rick knows these are probably unrealistic thoughts grief can make you question everything you did or didn't do. He added "I mean you have a hundred things go through your mind. There is nothing worse than losing a kid." He feels he tried his best even resorting to tough love measures. He recalled having Adam arrested once thinking jail might help him get clean. But sadly it wasn't enough. "You try to give him tough love but God you just never see the OD coming" Rick said.
'No Instruction Book': Rick Harrison's Message of Love and Appreciation
When asked about advice for other parents dealing with similar struggles Rick was honest and vulnerable. "I don't know. It's hard" he admitted. "There's no fing instruction book for kids. And they're all different models." There's no easy answer and every situation is unique. Despite the immense pain Rick is finding strength and focusing on his other sons Jake and Corey and his four grandchildren.
He shared his important takeaway from this tragedy: "Appreciate what you got because it's not you're not always going to have it." He makes sure to spend quality time with his loved ones. "I spend as much time with my kids as I can. I talk to all my kids on the phone almost every day. I love my kids love my grandkids." Rick is choosing to appreciate the good things in his life and encouraging others to do the same. "It is easy to enjoy life. It really is. Just don't be around the people that are miserable and just enjoy life with your family and your friends and everything. It's really it's not that hard to be happy.”
Adam Harrison: Not a 'Pawn Stars' Personality But Still Part of the Family
While Adam was Rick's son he wasn't part of the " Pawn Stars " TV show like his brothers Corey and Jake and his grandfather Richard "The Old Man" Harrison. Adam preferred to stay out of the spotlight. However he was still a cherished member of the Harrison family and his loss is deeply felt by all of them.
Rick's decision to speak out about Adam's death highlights the ongoing fentanyl crisis. In his initial statement about Adam's passing Rick said "The fentanyl crisis in this country must be taken more seriously. It seems it is just flowing over the borders and nothing is being done about it. We must do better.” His personal tragedy has made him an advocate for awareness about this deadly issue.
Key Takeaways from Rick Harrison's Heartfelt Interview:
- Unending Grief: Rick Harrison thinks about his son Adam every single day a year after his death.
- Years-Long Struggle: Adam battled drug addiction since his 20s leading to a fatal fentanyl overdose at 39.
- Parental Second-Guessing: Rick constantly questions if he could have done more to save Adam.
- Tough Love Attempts: Rick tried rehab and even jail hoping to help Adam break free from addiction.
- Focus on Family & Appreciation: Rick now emphasizes spending time with his surviving children and grandchildren and appreciating life's joys.
- Fentanyl Crisis Awareness: Adam's death underscores the severity of the fentanyl crisis in the US which Rick is now highlighting.
Moving Forward with Love and Memory
Rick Harrison's interview is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of addiction and the enduring love of a parent for their child. Even in the face of unimaginable loss Rick is choosing to focus on family connection and finding happiness in life's simple moments. His story is a somber one but also one of resilience love and a call for greater awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.