The death of 31-year-old Canadian actor Cory Monteith Saturday night shocked millions of people around the world, “Glee” lovers and non-fans alike.

The lead star of the hit musical TV show was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room, and with the release of the star’s autopsy Tuesday, what at first was an unknown cause of death was revealed to be a heroin overdose. Reports have also surfaced that he was with friends that night – but he returned to the hotel where he would eventually die alone.

I am absolutely torn apart about his death. I was a huge “Glee” fan for two years, and Cory’s character, Finn, had a lot to do with how much I grew in high school and how I saw myself. To hear that such a sunny, goofy guy was all by himself when he died not only saddens me but angers me as well.

Monteith struggled with substance abuse since he was 13 years old, entering rehabilitation for the first time when he was 19. March 31 of this year, he checked himself into rehabilitation again and finished treatment April 26. It was well known that he was dealing with a very serious drug addiction.

If he came out with it to the press and all his fans, surely those whom he regarded as his friends would also be aware of his struggles. As any decent college student knows, when your friend is intoxicated to the point that you’re afraid for his or her life, you stay with them. You don’t leave them by themselves, and you definitely don’t let them go back to their hotel rooms with hard drugs and alcohol – a lethal combination even for someone who doesn’t struggle with addiction.

I was not at the hotel. I was not there with him and his friends. I don’t know exactly what happened that convinced Monteith’s friends that he was “good to go” back to his hotel all alone. Obviously he was an adult, and it was not their job or responsibility to stop him from buying drugs or taking them. It was their responsibility, however, to make sure he was safe that night and that he wouldn’t do anything to harm himself.

I’m sure his friends feel awful enough that they weren’t there to prevent his death, and I don’t want to place direct blame on anyone, because addiction is a terrible and unpredictable monster that can rear its head at any moment. But they should be analyzing their actions from that night, so hopefully they will know what to do if anything like this ever happens again.

Monteith’s death should be a wake-up call not only to his friends, but also to those of us who are placed in the situation where we have the opportunity to leave our friends or stay. If you question your friend’s ability to last the night, 10 times out of 10 your answer should be “stay.” Even if they say they’re all right. Even if you have somewhere to be. There’s a sort of duty you assume when you enter that type of situation with your friends, so if the tables are ever turned they would hopefully do the same for you. It’s tragic that a bright, young, talented person had to be taken from us for this topic to be brought to light.

In his last filmed interview, Monteith said he was “happy to be here” after his time in rehab.

We were happy you were here, too, Cory.

Beth Lindly is a junior majoring in journalism.