Archive
Brad Renfro Died From An Accidental Overdose
This is a follow up to my Hollywood And Drugs article on January 23, 2008, where I wrote about actor Brad Renfro’s death of an overdose. It has now been confirmed that he did indeed die of a heroine overdose.
“Brad Renfro’s death ruled an accidental OD
February 11, 2008 – LOS ANGELES — The death last month of troubled 25-year-old actor Brad Renfro was caused by a heroin and morphine overdose, according to the coroner’s report.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office has ruled Renfro’s death was accidental. His body was found on Jan. 15 in his home.” http://www.suntimes.com
Story found here
Heath Ledger Died Of Accidental Drug Overdose
February 6. 2008
This is a follow up to my January 23, 2008 article titled Hollywood And Drugs regarding the death of 28-year old actor Heath Ledger, where I wrote:
“The actor also has a history of illegal drug use, namely heroin and cocaine. At the time of his death he was suffering from pneumonia, which would have created a lethal combination with the prescription drugs found in his apartment. While his autopsy was inconclusive, a variety of prescription drugs were found in his apartment.” – January 23, 2008
The article was confirmed today via the official toxicology report posted below, stating he died from an accidental prescription drug overdose. The, “Six drugs found in his system were oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine.”
I also wrote in that article: “Drugs are in abundant supply in Hollywood and frequently encouraged, regardless of age, race or sex. The government needs to crackdown on that.”
It was announced today that the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and police are looking into how Ledger obtained all those drugs. It’s not difficult, actually. Doctor shopping and willing entertainment industry lackeys are often to blame.
Coroner: “The manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications”
Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical industry has been very irresponsible in how it markets medicine. You’ll see one commercial offering you 2-4 different medicines for your symptoms. They don’t stop to think, if a person has several symptoms, they will try several medications at once and poison their system.
You see them in the pharmacy, “Oh my nose is stuffy, I have a fever and my allergies are flaring up as well” – then they buy three different medicines at once.
It’s the same with sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication. This one didn’t work, try this one, that one didn’t work, try this one – until the patient has an arsenal of drugs they are playing with at the same time to feel better and or sleep. A tolerance to the drug(s) can develop as well, duping the patient into taking more and more.
The pharmaceutical industry needs to start telling people DON’T TAKE ALL THIS STUFF AT ONCE.
I am not against medicine, as there are good ones out there that have helped many, but I am against overmedicating people. Not only can too many pharmaceutical drugs cause respiratory failure, if you live, over time, it can destroy the kidney.
While some doctors are responsible and don’t overmedicate patients, some give them whatever they ask for, which is dangerous. However, it should be noted, there are patients that go doctor shopping and rack up numerous prescriptions.
It’s a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, with one doctor not realizing there is another one in the picture issuing prescriptions as well.
Hollywood Spin
The frequently wrong TMZ, known for posting anything Hollywood tells them to, and making up stories as well.
What’s amazed me is Hollywood’s spin on his death, trying to paint him as having died from natural causes. People in the industry knew he was a drug user, yet lied to protect him anyway because of Brokeback. What kind of example did that set, not to mention further killing your credibility.
What’s ironic is, had it been a Christian actor or conservative politician that passed in this manner, they would have been very nasty, graceless and demeaning in what they would have printed. Hollywood’s double standard.
While, I don’t like Brokeback Mountain based on the trailer and what I have read in the press, I didn’t have anything personal against Ledger. Years ago I saw him on TV in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, which I don’t endorse, and thought he was good looking and charismatic. He came across as a real natural.
However, I saw him as someone taking roles he should not have, as they were disturbing. I also saw him as a man being used by Hollywood to further its gay agenda.
Hollywood used him and ran him into the ground. A heterosexual playing a gay role requiring contact, the movie comes out and he is condemned by many, but applauded by Hollywood. Then he takes disturbing roles in Dark Knight and Dr. Parnassus, further damaging his mental well being.
He turned to heavy drug use, like so many before him. He couldn’t even sleep at night anymore, as his mind and soul had gotten so restless.
Insomnia is a terrible thing. Scientists have found that people who don’t get enough sleep at night run the risk of brain damage. Over time it adds up and deteriorates the brain. It is recommended that you get 8 hours of sleep per night for good reason.
Story found here
Rapper Pimp C Died Of Codeine And Sleep Apnea
February 6. 2007
Rapper Pimp C, Chad Butler, of the rap group UGK passed away recently at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. He was 33.
Toxicology reports now confirm he died from abusing the prescription drug codeine (cough syrup) and a bout with sleep apnea (subject stops breathing in their sleep). Pimp C is famous for the song “Sippin’ on some Syrup” which is about getting high on cough syrup.
Many blogs have wondered out loud why a certain mainstream rapper and former collaborator, who claimed to be his friend, was “noticeably absent” from the funeral.
Don Juan…and a not so discreet FBI agent snapping surveillance pics in the background. Well, at least people can’t see you taking pictures, then (not).
However, articles on many sites and in newspapers such as the Star Telegram posted photographic evidence that the FBI was doing under cover surveillance at the funeral. Clearly someone(s) under investigation.
At the time of his death, Pimp C was working with UGK on an album for Jive Records. By all accounts the album was not completed before his sudden passing.
Pimp C did a set of interviews a few months ago that left many on the internet laughing. He took several industry members to task via a string of high profile disses that left the internet roaring with laughter.
In one of the interviews three months ago, he said something that caught my attention, “The only stars are in the m******** sky.” Indeed. I said the same as well the year before in 2006 (well, sans the expletive – I own the web site theonlystarsareinthesky.com as it is the name of an unreleased 2006 documentary and song I wrote).
My condolences to his family.
Story found here
Hollywood And Drugs
January 23. 2008
Yesterday 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger died from what many news outlets are calling a drug overdose. While his autopsy was inconclusive, a variety of prescription drugs were found in his apartment.
The actor also has a history of illegal drug use, namely heroin and cocaine. At the time of his death he was suffering from pneumonia, which would have created a lethal combination with the prescription drugs found in his apartment.
When I heard of his death, I remembered the passing of another entertainer that struggled with drugs, Michael Hutchence, of the band INXS. He reminds me of him.
Michael Hutchence of INXS
Heath Ledger
Ledger didn’t look very happy in his last days. Photos surfaced of him looking very depressed with eyes clearly darkened by the things he was going through, having split with his girlfriend, who is the mother of his toddler, and starring in a series of disturbing films (Brokeback Mountain, Dark Knight & Dr. Parnassus). My condolences to his family.
Brad Renfro
A few weeks before Ledger’s death, 25-year-old actor Brad Renfro was found dead in his home from a drug overdose. He was a young man that started out in the church, but was lured by the lights of Hollywood that ultimately did him in.
Brad Renfro on the red carpet
mug shot (top) his funereal (below)
He starred in almost two dozen films with more in the pipeline. He’d made a considerable sum of money from acting. By all appearances Renfro had a lot to live for, but died because of drugs.
River Phoenix
In 1993, promising young actor River Phoenix, 23, died from a drug overdose outside the Hollywood club The Viper Room. He collapsed on the sidewalk. A mixture of cocaine and heroine proved fatal.
For anyone to die that young is a tragedy. Yet these are only a few of the many entertainers that have tragically died in this manner.
The fact of the matter is Hollywood is a drug den. Full stop. Many celebrities have spoken of how they got on drugs in their early teens – not even twenties – their early teens. Drugs are in abundant supply in Hollywood and frequently encouraged, regardless of age, race or sex. The government needs to crackdown on that.
Some take it because they say it makes them feel good, while others say it opens up their minds, but the effects are so damaging, it can’t be worth it.
The Viper Room
Hollywood has so desensitized the public to drug use, using it for street cred in films and television dramas, that most teens today think it’s no big deal, when it is very serious.
Anything that can kill you is a big deal. Anything that can shave decades off your life is a big deal.
Some celebrities clearly aren’t happy. Happy people don’t mope around looking disoriented and depressed, but the drug culture in Hollywood is so prevalent that many fall prey to it.
There’s also the trap of feeling you are rich and famous, yet still unhappy – therefore, drugs are what’s missing from your life. That’s not the way to go. Literally.
Story found here
Anna Nicole Smith’s Son Overdosed
Several Prescription Drugs Found In His System
December 11. 2007
A Bahamian doctor has ruled that a combination of the drugs methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro led to the accidental overdose of Daniel Smith, son of the late model Anna Nicole Smith.
People often forget or just don’t know that it is risky taking too many drugs at once, even prescription and over the counter medicine. It has led to the accidental deaths of many. Drinking while on medication is also very dangerous.
“On the third day of an inquest into Smith’s death, Raju said the young man had five other drugs in his system — including two that medical personnel used in an attempt to revive him after he collapsed while visiting his celebrity mother at a Nassau hospital.
The former Playboy playmate herself collapsed and died Feb. 8 in Florida from an overdose of drugs.” http://news.yahoo.com
Story found here
Aisha Music 