Conner Flowers was popular for being the fun-loving brother to Southern Charm reality TV star Olivia Flowers. He died in January 2023 at the age of 32. Now the Southern Charm star is opening up about the cause of death of her brother.
Conner Had Lyme Disease
Conner kept his health condition private, but he suffered from Lyme disease. He first started experiencing symptoms of the disease when he was only 15. Although he was unable to get a diagnosis for many years. Olivia Flowers states that Conner would experience dizziness, headaches, and joint pain from his disease.
Olivia Flowers says that her parents sought the best clinics to help Conner battle his disease. However, Olivia stated that many physicians told Conner the symptoms were just in his head. Olivia stated, “It’s just heartbreaking. There are these holes in the healthcare system, and my brother fell into one.”
Olivia Flowers-Instagram
Olivia Flowers stated that her brother’s symptoms were often debilitating. Conner was prescribed opioids and Xanax for his condition. Conner and his family thought that the medications were helping to combat his disease. While Conner was under the impression he was taking the medication to help his condition, although he became addicted to the substances.
Fans thought that Lyme Disease was the reason for his death, but it turns out that wasn’t the case.
Olivia Flowers has now revealed that the cause of her brother’s death was a fentanyl overdose. What started as taking medications to treat his Lyme Disease spiraled Conner into a cycle of addiction. Olivia revealed that her brother had several stays in rehab facilities to try to kick his use of opioid medications and Xanax.
Olivia said, “Nobody wanted to get better more than Conner did. It was just such a hard time. We are very, very close as a family. We were all very involved and rallied round him. But for years he was just in and out of rehab, trying so hard to get on the other side of this.”
Olivia Flowers also shared that Conner would freely admit that he had a problem with substances and he never fought the family’s decision to send him to rehab.
She went on to say that “people, when they hear words like ‘rehab’ or ‘drugs,’ they assume the worst. But these weren’t substances he turned to for partying. This was medicine. This is what made him feel normal.”
Olivia stated that at the time of his death, Conner had been in the best shape she had seen him in years. She recalls that she talked to him just an hour before his passing. “It was just so crazy,” she says. “We were on the phone not even an hour earlier. And then… he’s gone.” Conner died of an accidental fentanyl overdose one week before he would turn 33.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
