Chris Cornell's Wife Issues Statement, Blames Anxiety Medicine for Suicide

Rolling Stone ^ | Daniel Kreps

[BenLurkin]

Vicky noticed a change in her husband's demeanor when they talked on the phone after the show.

"When we spoke after the show, I noticed he was slurring his words; he was different. When he told me he may have taken an extra Ativan or two, I contacted security and asked that they check on him," she continued. "What happened is inexplicable and I am hopeful that further medical reports will provide additional details. I know that he loved our children and he would not hurt them by intentionally taking his own life."

An attorney for the Cornell family, Kirk Pasich, reiterated Vicky's belief that an extra dosage of Ativan, an anxiety medication often employed by recovering addicts, altered Chris Cornell's mental faculties after the Detroit show. Pasich added that the Cornell family is "disturbed at inferences that Chris knowingly and intentionally took his life."

"Without the results of toxicology tests, we do not know what was going on with Chris — or if any substances contributed to his demise," Pasich said. "Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages. The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions."

Pasich added that side effects of Ativan include "paranoid or suicidal thoughts, slurred speech and impaired judgment"...

[Neoliberalnot]

Ativan is just another drug useful for certain conditions. Most drugs on the market have their place. I understand there are always going to be a subset of the population that will abuse them.

Mr. Tmoth, I’m sorry about your having to live with the seizures threat, but thankfully they can be effectively controlled.

[Zirondelle]

I’ve had a “take as needed” prescription for Ativan for heart palpitations for over 12 years. Never had a problem with it.