Posted on 01/19/2018 4:56:40 PM PST by Wolfie
Tom Petty's Autopsy: Singer Died From Massive Accidental Drug Overdose
Tom Petty's autopsy results are in, and they show the singer died from an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications.
The L.A. County Coroner says a number of Tom's organs failed due to "mixed drug toxicity."
Tom's autopsy report shows the singer was on several pain meds, including Fentanyl patches, oxycodone (Oxycontin), temazepam (Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), citalopram (Celexa), acetyl fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl. The reason doctors prescribed the meds was because of a number of medical problems, including emphysema, knee problems and a fractured hip.
The family says the linchpin to Tom's demise was the fractured hip. He insisted on touring for 53 concert dates with the condition, which worsened over time and caused him to take the meds. On the date he had the heart attack he was told his hip had graduated to a full-on break that made the pain unbearable and may have caused the overuse of meds.
The autopsy says Petty suffered from coronary artery atherosclerosis.
As we reported ... Tom's official death certificate left his cause of death as "deferred," leaving it as a mystery until now.
We broke the story ... Tom went into full cardiac arrest before being taken to a hospital in L.A. He eventually died when his family took him off life support.
Fentanyl was also linked to the deaths of Prince and Lil Peep.
Tom was 66.
It sounds like he wasn’t willing to rest his bones and was taking an excessive load of pain pills to try to keep moving on and on and on, even as his bone condition got worse.
That’s maybe understandable for a fellow whose life was driven from fame, but it’s also the pride that goes before a fall. We’re mortal and, short of the rare divine miracle, we don’t just leap up after taking a serious hit.
In this case I’d say the pills were actually being used to a purpose. It’s the purpose itself that was wrongheaded. He didn’t need this sort of heroic pain relief for the situation he was in — and by the way I would never ever begrudge it to the terminally ill, as if utter pharmaceutical virtue on the way out were the cat’s meow. That’s hyper-puritanical and wrongheaded. But Tom was in a different situation. He needed rest.
Rumors are it got Dolores O'Riordan as well.
Rock star dying of a drug overdose...shocking!
Stars are wont to get into this kind of problem, as their own life becomes their idol. They find themselves unwilling to stop out of it all and rest. And yet that’s sometimes the last chance to meet God before departing the mortal coil.
I recall Petty being petty with GW about the use of a song.
Oh pity....
I wonder about the hazards of becoming really good at something.
One can begin to think oneself above the provision and plans of God.
If Petty had swallowed his pride and rested for several months, he might have been back on his feet singing again without being polluted to the gills in the process, and with a humbler attitude to boot.
I’ve yet to walk in another man’s shoes. Sounds like he led a demanding, tough life. Walking away from a destructive lifestyle is hard for some people.
“Rock star dying of a drug overdose...shocking!”
And there are many entertainers that get clean and sober, and remain so.
Sir Anthony Hopkins around 40 years sober.
Eric Clapton around 30 years sober. Bonnie Raitt many years sober.
I saw him in May. I miss Tom. I love his music. I love his lyrics.
No matter what anyone thinks of the man, I found in him someone who fought the same battles that I have. He understood life’s struggles, for better or worse.
Rest in peace, Tom. Whether you knew it or not, your Dad loved you and was proud of you. He may not have always showed you that. I know he regretted not telling you that earlier in your life.
Three of those are mood stabilizers or antianxiety meds. (Citalopram, xanax , and temazepam). The rest are opiates
Joe Walsh has been sober for about 20 years, if he can get sober, anybody can.
These overdosers take SEVERAL benzodiazepines at a time, along with opiates.
A pattern.
Also a look at the surface. One like that tends to blame sea foam for the destruction of storm driven waves.
Gosh, I miss him. In his later years, I had the wonderful chance to get to know his Dad, who, while Tom may not have realized it, was very proud of his son. Earl was old school, a product of his environment, as much as Tom was of his. He may not have gone about it in the best way, but Earl wanted only the best for Tom, and was very proud of him that he made a go of a career in rock music. Tom was full time of insights, and he was a born entertainer. There are some celebrities who I actually connect(ed) to, and Tom was one of the few. Very few.
Well, it sure got rid of HIS pain didn’t it?
Just like you shouldn’t mix alcohol, you’re really asking for it when you mix painkillers.
the singer was on several pain meds, including Fentanyl patches, oxycodone (Oxycontin), temazepam (Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), citalopram (Celexa), acetyl fentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl.
“Enough to kill anyone.”
Kith Richards is laughing at your post
Quel surprise!
I wish that Tom could have rested. Many celebrities are driven, and can’t stop. Their image becomes their life, and a Tom lounging around home for several months has no energy from that source.
This is where the wise person will stop and listen to God. The not so wise one will keep on rushing around at whatever cost, and ultimately meed an early and unseemly destruction.
This is why I don’t trust doctors. They will find anything to pump you full of drugs.
How does a coroner know it was ‘accidental’?
Weird.
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