Ledger Died from Accidental Overdose
CNN is reporting that Heath Ledger’s death has been ruled as an accidental overdose.
“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.”
Hydrocodone and oxycodone are painkillers. Diazepam is an anti-anxiety drug commonly sold under the brand name Valium; alprazolam is also an anti-anxiety drug sold under such names as Xanax. Temazepam, sold under such names as Restoril and Euhypnos, is a sleeping agent, as is doxylamine.
It’s painfully tragic that this young man died so young. It’s even more so because his death was brought on by prescribed medications, which would have been safe were they taken alone. However, it was the combination of the drugs, in low doses, that ultimately killed him.
In a statement released through Ledger’s publicist, Ledger’s father, Kim, said Wednesday: “While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.
I’m aware of many people who are on multiple medications, so this is indeed a warning. Heath was taking these medications in their prescribed doses when he died, but the mixture of them killed him. It’s a risk so many of us take when we’re too tired to sleep, suffering from chronic illness, stressed out…etc.
Read the Ledger Family statement here.
Rest in peace, Heath.
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