Cooper Noriega was a 19-year-old digital personality who gained over 3 million followers before his tragic death on June 9, 2022. This teenage TikToker died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, Xanax, and other anxiety medications. His death highlighted the ongoing youth mental health crisis and addiction struggles affecting Generation Z. Just days before his death, this rising star launched a Discord community to help others with mental health issues.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Cooper Noriega was born on June 28, 2002, in the United States and later lived in California. This future content creator attended Laguna Beach High School where he played on the boys’ volleyball team and graduated in 2020.
Cooper began his social media journey in May 2019 when he started posting on TikTok under the username coopdaddy69. As a viral content creator, his content included lip-sync videos, comedy clips, point-of-view (POV) videos, and modeling content. His boyish charm and good looks quickly attracted viewers within the TikTok community. He collaborated with other popular social media personalities like Mattia Polibio, Jaden Hossler, and Riley Hubatka. By the time of his death, this online celebrity had amassed over 3 million followers on TikTok and more than 555,000 followers on Instagram. His rapid rise made him one of the notable young influencers of his generation, representing the TikTok generation that uses social media for both entertainment and advocacy.
Struggles with Addiction Begin Young
Early Prescription Drug Use
Cooper Noriega openly shared his battle with addiction that started at just 9 years old. This Gen Z influencer revealed that his struggles began when he was prescribed Xanax as a child to help with his fear of flying.
Cooper revealed on a February 2022 episode of “The Good Boys” podcast that he was taken to a wilderness therapy program followed by a stay at a residential therapy facility when he was around 15 years old and that a fear of flying led to his being prescribed Xanax as a child. By 13, he was smoking marijuana, and by 14 “it was really bad,” he said.
Recovery Attempts and Setbacks
After an overdose at age 15, he was sent to a wilderness therapy program in Utah. While the wilderness program initially helped him, he said his experience at residential rehab was negative and set back his progress. He claims that drugs were being misused inside the facility without repercussions and that some staff members were not helpful and were “corrupt” in his opinion.
The social media star also revealed a particularly dangerous period in his life. In January of 2021, he shared on Twitter, “90 days clean!!! [It’s] been hard, but so much beauty during this process, it’s also crazy that [four] months ago [I] was at such a low point. I had a deadly overdose/ suicide attempt on fent[anyl] when I stopped breathing and was rushed to the ER. Luckily, someone found me before it was too late :).” At age 18, Noriega had a particularly “crazy week of drugs,” and was taking Xanax, cocaine, ketamine and various opioids, he said during his “The Good Boys” podcast interview. “It was so bad.”
Creating Community Through Mental Health Advocacy
Cooper used his platform to address mental health openly with his followers. This mental health advocate wanted to create safe spaces where young people could discuss their struggles without judgment.
Just four days before his death, on June 5, 2022, Cooper announced the creation of a Discord server called “Coop’s Advice.” “I have just created a Discord server strictly for mental health because how much I love you guys, and how much I struggle with it myself,” he said in a TikTok. “So I want you guys to not be alone and feel safe, and I have a bunch of that coming soon.” He wrote on Instagram that he wanted to use his influence to normalize talking about mental illness. Cooper had dreams of opening his own rehab facility where people wouldn’t be traumatized during recovery. The Discord community he created is still active today, continuing his mission of providing support for young people facing similar struggles. Since its inception, Coop’s Advice has grown to over 225,000 active members worldwide, a testament to Cooper’s vision and influence.
The Final Days and Tragic Death
Cooper Noriega’s death on June 9, 2022, shocked his millions of followers and highlighted the severity of his ongoing battles. Hours before his death, this young creator posted a cryptic message that worried his fans.
Hours before he was found dead, Noriega posted a video on TikTok, where he now has over 3 million followers, with the caption, “Who else b thinking they gon die young af.” Cooper was found unconscious in a Burbank, California parking lot. Paramedics arrived but were unable to revive the platform personality. He was just three weeks away from his 20th birthday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined that Cooper died from the “combined effects” alprazolam, a medication known by its brand name Xanax, fentanyl and lorazepam, which is used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. The medical examiner also noted “recent clonazepam use” — a medication known as Klonopin, which is also used to treat anxiety — as a “significant condition.” Initially ruled accidental, his death is now being prosecuted as poisoning from fentanyl.
Family Response and Foundation Creation
Cooper’s family was devastated by his loss but channeled their grief into continuing his mission. His parents Harold and Treva, along with his sister Parker Noriega, worked to honor this posthumous advocate’s memory.
“I also want to share with you that today has been an incredibly difficult time for my family and me. We lost our beautiful 19 year old Cooper last evening,” Harold Noriega wrote. “He was loved by so many and truly the love of Treva’s, Parker’s, and my life.” Cooper’s mother Treva shared her heartbreak on Instagram, calling him her “special angel.” His sister Parker posted on his Instagram account thanking fans for their support. The family created The Coop’s Advice Foundation to continue Cooper’s work in mental health awareness and addiction support. The foundation “aims to become a leader in the movement to rethink how our society understands and addresses mental health and addiction, especially among members of Gen Z.” This foundation represents the internet personality’s lasting contribution to his community, transforming personal struggle into collective healing.
Legal Developments and Justice Sought
Criminal Charges Filed
In November 2023, more than a year after Cooper’s death, significant legal developments occurred in his case. Six suspects were arrested and charged in connection with his fentanyl poisoning.
In November 2023, six suspects were charged with multiple crimes, including money laundering, the distribution of a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death by a “fatal fentanyl overdose” according to federal prosecutors. Cooper’s family expressed gratitude for the arrests, writing on Instagram about “the incredible work” that led to the arrests of the individuals “responsible for the death of our beautiful boy, Cooper Noriega, from fentanyl poisoning.”
Upcoming Trial
The case shows how this social media influencer’s death is now being prosecuted as poisoning rather than just an accidental overdose. Multiple suspects are expected to face trial in August 2025, showing that justice continues to be pursued for Cooper and his family.
Warning Signs and Broader Context
Cooper Noriega’s death reflects a larger crisis affecting the influencer generation and young people across America. Drug overdose deaths among teenagers have increased dramatically in recent years.
Drug overdose deaths in teenagers ages 14 to 18 almost doubled between 2019 and 2020, and they went up another 20% in the first half of 2021, NBC News reported. The increase was driven primarily by fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration has said nearly 25% of pills sold as OxyContin, Percorcet or Xanax on the black market are fake and can contain enough fentanyl to kill a person. Cooper’s case demonstrates how prescription drugs obtained illegally can contain deadly amounts of fentanyl. His family emphasizes that Cooper’s death was preventable and that more needs to be done to address co-occurring disorders where mental health issues and substance abuse happen together. They stress the importance of carrying naloxone (Narcan) and getting immediate help for anyone showing signs of overdose.
Cooper Noriega’s story serves as both a tragedy and a call to action. His openness about his struggles helped many young people feel less alone, establishing him as more than just a typical TikTok creator. The Coop’s Advice Foundation continues his work, providing resources and support for mental health and addiction recovery. His death reminds us that behind every social media profile is a real person fighting real battles, and that fame doesn’t protect anyone from mental illness or addiction. Through his family’s continued advocacy and the community he built, this digital native’s message of hope and support lives on, proving that even in death, his influence as a teenage philanthropist continues to grow.
