Drug Abuse, Drug Overdose Killed Heath Ledger
February 8th, 2008 by admin
By John E. Carey
Peace and Freedom
February 6, 2008
(From reports by CNN, AP, FOX News Channel and Reuters)
Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills, the New York City medical examiner's office said Wednesday.
"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine," the office said in a short statement.
"We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."
Oxycodone, a painkiller, is the active ingredient in the prescription drug OxyContin. Hydrocodone, another painkiller, is often combined with acetaminophen, as in the prescription drug Vicodin. Diazepam, sold under the commercial name Valium, is used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal. Temazepam, brand name Restoril, is prescribed in the short term to help patients fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. Alprazolam, commonly known under the brand name Xanax, is part of a class of medications called benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
Doxylamine, found in common "nighttime sleep aids," is an an antihistamine that causes drowsiness as a side effect and is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia. (It is also used, in combination with decongestants, to relieve cough and cold symptoms.)
Ledger died January 22 at an apartment in Lower Manhattan. The Oscar-nominated Australian actor, best known for his role as a stoic, closeted cowboy in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain," was 28.
Police reported finding several prescription medications in the room but no illegal drugs.
An autopsy done on the actor January 23 was inconclusive.
From Reuters:
His death shocked film fans and fellow actors around the world and added his name to the list of movie stars who died young, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.
Kim Ledger, the actor's father, said the family was humbled by the outpouring of support from fans around the world and asked to be allowed to grieve privately.
"Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts," he said in a statement.
"While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy."
SIX PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
The painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone are opiates, which are dangerous when combined with anti-anxiety medicines like diazepam, alprazolam and temazepam. According to a Drug Enforcement Administration Web site, oxycodone is often abused and an acute overdose can cause respiratory arrest and death.
Diazepam is sold under the brand name Valium and alprazolam is sold under the name Xanax. Temazepam is also used as a sleep aid and sold under the name Restoril. Doxylamine, a sleep aid and antihistamine, is an active ingredient in a number of over-the-counter medications, including NyQuil.
Ledger had said in recent interviews he was having trouble sleeping during the filming of the latest Batman film "The Dark Knight" in which he plays The Joker, a homicidal maniac. The film is due out in July.
Andrew Kolodny, a psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, said, "If someone has an overdose death with that kind of toxicology report, it's usually an indication that they were either doctor-shopping or purchasing medications either on the street or on the Internet."
The handsome star had been romantically linked with a number of actresses and models, periodically spotted in fancy clubs and night spots around New York.
He recently had been in a committed relationship with actress Michelle Williams, the mother of their 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, but the couple split in September. Some reports said Ledger was having difficulty with the breakup.
The couple met during the filming of "Brokeback Mountain," for which Ledger received an Oscar nomination.
Other film credits included "The Patriot" in 2000, "Monster's Ball" in 2001 and "I'm Not There" in 2007.
The FOX News Channel reported that Mr. Ledger was taking "two kinds of anti-anxiety medications, two kinds of sleep aids and two kinds of pain killers."
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