Singer Prince died of prescription drug overdose – medical examiner

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Singer Prince died of prescription drug overdose – medical examiner



MINNEAPOLIS: -- American pop artist Prince died from a self-administered overdose of a prescription painkiller.

The US Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office said the singer died of an accidental overdose of one of the strongest opiate drugs on the market: fentanyl.

The probe into Prince’s death had focused on painkillers after prescription opioid medication was found close to where he died .. and after reports he had been struggling with an addiction.

The songwriter was found dead in his home in the US state of Minneapolis in last April.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-06-03

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Autopsy report: Prince died of accidental fentanyl overdose

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prince died of an overdose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid painkiller that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin, autopsy results released Thursday show.

The findings confirm suspicions that opioids played a role in the death of the superstar musician, who was found dead April 21 at his Minneapolis-area estate.

It was not immediately clear whether Prince had a prescription for the drug and, if not, how he obtained it. At least one friend has said he suffered from intense knee and hip pain from many years of stage performances.

The results raised the possibility that anyone who provided the drug illegally could face criminal charges. Although the death was formally ruled an accident, that merely signified that it was not intentional and in no way precludes prosecution.

After Prince died, authorities began reviewing whether an overdose was to blame and whether he had been prescribed drugs in the preceding weeks.

According to a one-page report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, Prince administered the drug himself on an unknown date. The office said the death investigation is complete, and it had no further comment.

Confirmation that Prince died of an opioid overdose was first reported by The Associated Press. The autopsy report was released hours later.

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug that has legitimate medical uses. It is also partly responsible for a recent surge in overdose deaths in some parts of the country. Because of its risks, it is tightly controlled by the Food and Drug Administration, but much of it is manufactured illegally.

Pain patients who have built up a tolerance to other prescription painkillers, or who have become addicted, sometimes seek out stronger drugs such as heroin or fentanyl.

More than 700 fentanyl-related overdoses were reported to the Drug Enforcement Administration in late 2013 and 2014.

Prince, 57, died less than a week after his plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois, for medical treatment as he was returning from an Atlanta concert. The Associated Press and other media reported, based on anonymous sources, that he was found unconscious on the plane, and first responders gave him a shot of Narcan, an antidote used in suspected opioid overdoses.

The autopsy was conducted the day after Prince's body was found. When his body was examined, he was 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighed 112 pounds and was dressed almost entirely in black. He had scars on his left hip and right lower leg. The report did not say whether those scars were evidence of any past surgery to relieve pain.

The focus of the investigation will now probably turn to determining who supplied the fentanyl and whether the sources were legitimate or illegal, said Gal Pissetzky, a Chicago-based attorney who has represented multiple clients facing drug charges. He has no link to Prince.

Authorities may also look to the singer's associates.

"The investigation may expand to people who surround him," Pissetzky said. "If fentanyl was obtained illegally, I don't think Prince would have gone out to meet someone in a dark alley to get the substance."

If a street dealer was the source, identifying that person will not be easy.

"It'll be very, very difficult," he said. "These guys don't write receipts, and they change phones all the time."

Illegally distributing fentanyl to someone who then dies from it is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years under federal law. Under Minnesota law, the same actions can result in third-degree murder charges and up to 25 years in prison.

The names of at least two doctors have come up in the death investigation being conducted by the Carver County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg, a family practitioner, treated Prince twice in the weeks before his death and told investigators he prescribed medications for the singer. The medications were not specified in a search warrant for the Minnesota hospital that employed Schulenberg at the time.

Schulenberg saw Prince April 7 and April 20 — the day before his death — according to the warrant. Schulenberg's attorney has declined to comment on the case.

Dr. Howard Kornfeld, a California addiction specialist, was asked by Prince's representatives on April 20 to help the singer.

Kornfeld sent his son Andrew on a redeye flight that night, and Andrew Kornfeld was among the people who found Prince's body the next morning, according to Kornfeld's attorney, William Mauzy.

The younger Kornfeld, who is not a doctor, was carrying buprenorphine, a medication that can be used to treat opioid addiction by easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, Mauzy said, explaining that Andrew Kornfeld intended to give the medication to a Minnesota doctor who had cleared his schedule to see Prince on April 21.

Mauzy has refused to identify that doctor. Schulenberg is not authorized to prescribe buprenorphine.

On Thursday, Mauzy said his clients never delivered, dispensed or administered any medication to Prince. The Kornfelds "were simply trying to help and remain saddened by Prince's death," he said.

Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city, and then came the emergency landing in Moline. He was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death.

The superstar had a reputation for clean living, and some friends said they never saw any sign of drug use. But longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels.

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Tarm reported from Chicago.

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Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Chicago also contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-03

[Ulysses G.]

Pretty much what I figured. He was no genius, but he was a damn successful musician who lived the rock-star dream and went out with a bang.

Edited June 2, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[thai3]

very much the way Jackson went, and as expected, not a genius. but a rather sad figure in the end.

[alfalfa19]

never mind

Edited June 3, 2016 by alfalfa19

[slipperylobster]

You would think the popularity and success would ward of the depression and self medication.

I suppose the pressures from agents/money grabbers that hound these guys gets to be unbearable.

Years of being in the spotlight, and the center of the party...until the lifestyle takes it's toll.

Artists can be self centered, and very self destructive. Not all..but quite a few.

[Sydebolle]

Googled the name of the drug; on the first page I got the following entries - I for one - rest my case:

fen·ta·nyl

ˈfentənil,ˈfentn-il/

noun noun: fentanyl

1. a fast-acting narcotic analgesic and sedative that is sometimes abused for its heroinlike effect.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine. ... Street names for the drug include Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, as well as Tango and Cash. ... Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid ...

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. It's so potent that an amount the size of three grains of sugar is lethal to an adult. First synthesized in the 1960s by ...

[reggaebkk]

Isn't that very similiar as the Jackson murder?

[Guitar God]

Where did you come up with depression as the reason he was taking opiates? He had been prescribed Percocet for chronic hip pain.

I think the only "lifestyle" that caught up with him was performance related injuries. To read your post you make him out to be some mini Keith Ritchards self medicating with heroin and battling depression. I sure didn't read that anywhere.

You would think the popularity and success would ward of the depression and self medication.

I suppose the pressures from agents/money grabbers that hound these guys gets to be unbearable.

Years of being in the spotlight, and the center of the party...until the lifestyle takes it's toll.

Artists can be self centered, and very self destructive. Not all..but quite a few.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Big Pharma is responsible for more deaths than all illegal drugs combined. But they own the politicians so it is allowed to continue.

[Hammock]

Fentanyl??? He must have had a very high tolerance to opiates to take Fentanyl which is prescribed in microscopic doses in hospitals. Russian special forces used gas on Fentanyl basis in a well known "Nord-Ost" theater operation in Moscow against terrorists who took a whole theater in hostage. Many people died on fentanyl overdose. Prince was a great talent same as Michael Jackson but their addiction on such dangerous and absolutely not recreational drugs like Fentanyl or propofol is very bad. RIP.

Edited June 3, 2016 by Hammock

[Rancid]

Big Pharma is responsible for more deaths than all illegal drugs combined. But they own the politicians so it is allowed to continue.

Recall reading years ago that Big Pharma was at the front in getting recreational drugs banned so they could replace them with their patented versions. May recall in the old days Americans were encouraged to grow hemp, cocaine was in coca cola, why is it though there wasn't the same drug abuse problem back when the government stayed out of personal lives and all that stuff was legal?

Now days it is the Medical Industrial Industry making profits as they kill huge numbers of people every year, seems the war on drugs may be directed at the wrong criminals. Opioid painkillers alone are responsible for more deaths each year than heroin and cocaine combined.

Prince and Michael Jackson are now part of the statistics.

[Credo]

Considering that he had numerous health issues and had hip replacement surgery as well as other injuries due to his performing, it is very likely that the pills were not used for recreational purposes but for pain reduction.

Prince was known for his religious leanings and his clean living. Not that that would preclude recreational use of drugs, but since he was a musician, I doubt he had any moral inclination to hide his drug use. He wasn't an evangelical preacher after all.

[MyFriend You]

very much the way Jackson went, and as expected, not a genius. but a rather sad figure in the end.

Michael Jackson wasn't found in an elevator, personally, I think Prince was the Anti-Disco, Anti-pop rock star. RIP

[wooloomooloo]

No one is to blame but Prince himself. What he ingested was his decision, and his alone.

Anyway, RIP.

[Travel2003]

I sense the villagers are gathering with their forks and torches, in order to sue whomever they can link to the medication.

Unknown children, unknown siblings, lovers, x-wifes, x-girlfriends, etc, have already started to come out from under the rocks, with their lawyers.

RIP.

Will never ever forget his Purple Rain performance.

[DM07]

What does it matter? The guy was a musical genius, no matter what the unworthy say and he will be remembered as such, by those who care and understand!

[kaorop]

 

What does it matter? The guy was a musical genius, no matter what the unworthy say and he will be remembered as such, by those who care and understand!

 

+1

As per usual those here devoid of any musical talent are lining up to put the boots in, sad for them.

It is sad for us that he has passed away, in a now too common issue.

[PomRakBKK]

Prescription Thugs!

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.