Celebrity Drug Overdoses
I knew that there have been a few deaths of famous people involved in drugs, but when I started to look in to it I was absolutely shocked to learn how many there were. A very serious problem exists and shows no sign of stopping.
John Belushi, died in 1982 from a combined injection of cocaine and heroin known as a “speedball”. Best known for his roles in “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers”. He was also a cast member of “Saturday night Live” and the role of Dr. Peter Venkman in “Ghostbusters” was written for Belushi. Cathy Smith who was a groupie for “the Band” was charged with first degree murder for giving him the fatal shot. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Elvis Presley, died in 1977 from a violent heart attack. But it is widely believed it was brought on by combined drug intoxication(poly-pharmacy). Considered to be “The King of Rock and Roll” Elvis staged the first ever live concert via satellite and had at least 1 billion viewers, with another 500 million on a delay. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in the history of music.
Marilyn Monroe, died in 1962 from “acute barbiturate poisoning”. Rumors and speculation that she was murdered still continue today, involving political figures such as JFK and his brother Robert. Arguably the most famous model and performer, Marilyn starred in many movies with other stars such as Clark Gable and Charlton Heston.
Judy Garland died in 1969 from an overdose of barbiturates. Her most notable performance was Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” and introduced the song “Over the Rainbow” to the world. Judy Garland is the mother of Liza Minnelli and star “the Judy Garland Show”. The series was nominated for 4 Emmy awards.
Anna Nicole Smith died in 2007 from “combined drug intoxication”. It is worth mentioning that no illegal drugs were found in her system. Model, Sex Symbol, and TV personality she had her own show “The Anna Nicole Show” and was Playmate of the year in 1993. It was rumored that Anna never recovered from the death of her son Daniel and this led to her increased depression and overdose.
Heath Ledger died in 2008 from acute intoxication of a variety of narcotic drugs. He starred in many movies including “The Patriot”, “Broke Back Mountain” and “A Knights Tale”. His portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight” was said by many to be his best work, and awarded him the Best Supporting Actor award. This was partly due to enormous public opinion and was given posthumously to his family.
It is unknown at this time the cause of death of Michael Jackson, so I have omitted his name from this list. But there is strong evidence to suggest that drugs played a role in his condition as well. It is apparent that money and status allows celebritys access to and abuse of various illegal and prescription drugs that is leading to their deaths. Is becoming a star destined to have a fatal outcome? Not for everyone, but for far too many that seems to be the case. I hope that future deaths can be avoided from this preventable cause.
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I am very happily married and raising 5 children. Trying to make sense of it all, and living life to the fullest.. And, I pledge to drive less in 2009.
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NICE WORK! It seems that there are too many lives lost to drugs in the world period! When you add fame and fortune and the enablers that put these stars lives at risk instead of protecting them, you have a lethal coctail. It seems almost a trend in hollywood to see our beloved actors and music legends needlessly die at the hands of the people that are supposed to be there to help them and keep them alive.
Any one of the drugs that aided in the deaths of these people likely started out in small doses…alot of them addictive where the addict DEMANDS a higher dose..when that stops doing what it did initially, another drug is added…then another..then another…and eventually the doses and the mixing of these drugs is taken literally into the hands of those to succumb to them.
It is not monitored and get’s out of control…eventually with the addition of just one more pill, or one more injection…STEALS ANOTHER LIFE!
So many musicians, and actors like Montgomery Clift, Bruce Lee, Hugh O’Connor, Margaux Hemingway, Alan Ladd, River Phoenix in addition to the above. And probably many that we will never know about
SEAN??HOW DID YOU DO THAT???I’ll comment later,right now I’m in awe,speechless!you ROCK!!!BRAVO!!!
Hugh O’Connor shot himself, I believe. Here is a much longer list of drug-related celebrity deaths:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drug-related_deaths
Thanks for your link James ~ wow!
xxxcelent article SEAN!!!!!!! but like bruce says there are so many famous peopledying or have died due to this enormous problem of drug overdoses and what shelly says when you have MONEY you have access to many kinds of drugs and very much a LETHAL COCTAIL. look how many we have lost already?
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“STEALS ANOTHER LIFE!”
sorry… have to disagree here, this is simply darwin separating the wheat from the chaff.
overdose… it’s not a bug… it’s a feature.
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Drugs are evil..they take over your body, your mind…you can’t live without most of them once addicted…I have to agree..it’s NOT A BUG…IT’S A DISEASE!!
a disease that KILLS…and IMO yes..steals lives when not respected!
I read Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe were addicted to heroin,and it causes a feeling of euphoria,possibly this drug brings out an artistic/creative side too?I’m not sure how Poe died,but I didn’t realize all these celebrities died of overdoses,When will SOMEONE become a poster child for ADDICTION?
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no, it’s not that drugs are evil… it’s that junkies are weak & stupid.
don’t worry though… nature weeds out the weak & stupid… as shown in this post.
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well junkies are still people and it doesn’t take much for a person to become a junkie. Especially with drugs like Meth where anyone has a 98% chance of being addicted after the first time they use.
care to explain your post!
Thank you! I wanted to post this but didn’t know where to put it. I wish I knew how to put the youtube video here ( hint hint CA
)
This is Elvis 6 weeks before he died in concert. I remember his death very well. My friend & I called each other for 2 days with ‘is your mom still crying…yep…and yours…yep’.
Wow, it made the box
I was copying the wrong link. I’ll be dangerous now!
This is one of my fave songs of his, redone with Lisa Marie. He was a kind & generous soul who missed out of so much in the future.
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sorry folks… it’s even harder to feel sorry for the celebrity millionaire junkies… who obviously have the resources to break free of addiction.
these dumbsticks are supremely self-important, self indulgent babies… who killed themselves as surely as putting a gun to their heads.
the healthcare system in canada is falling apart from lack of finances… so how about we work first at saving people who don’t want to kill themselves?
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neo, like the needle exchange program? Since when is having money make it any easier to break free from an addiction? In Canada you can get the help for free. What does money have to do with it?
I just don’t understand this needle exchange thing?aren’t these addicts getting these drugs illegally?it’s not like diabetics are exchanging the needles,why are we enabling addicts???
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you think there’s no difference between a toothless, homeless, raggedy-*** crack whore in east van… and a millionaire hollywood celebrity?
seriously?
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The difference, the person on the street may have a harder time getting a fix ( have to turn a trick or find a supplier ) than the celebrity who just makes a call for delivery.
I saw Johnny Cash interviewed once, don’t recall if Elvis turned on him on to drugs or if Cash was the one, but one hooked up the other. To do shows on tour they would take a handfull of uppers then a handfull of downers to sleep. It begins a cycle that is not easy to break. Yes they made the choice to be famous & to take the drugs. It is still the responsibility of the doctors to not over prescribe to anyone, famous or not.
which was basically my point…thanks beth..
Of course there is a difference. Before the addiction they have the means to live an outstanding life. And I wonder why they decide to go down the path of destruction with drugs. However, after the addiction there is no difference. Except perhaps with more money available the harm is greater because the money is there to buy more drugs, which is not always an option for the east Van addicts. Hence the crime rate. Once the drug takes over, common sense and “status” means nothing. The drug is in control.
IN MY Opinion I think they all became addicted for a personal reason they couldn’t handle their guilt , Marilyn M running with the President Elvis , was abusive , Michael J was a ped .. Judy Garland was ill before drugs mentally , Anna nicole Smith ripped off an old man couldn’t live with the guilt ,,,they all Had a reason no one could have helped them , & i predict there will be more …
Jessie, I have never heard Elvis was abusive, in what way?
smashing TVS ha!
some of his live in girl friends ? I have heard maybe it isn’t true ? why did priscilla leave him?
lol Jessie, I never heard he smashed tvs. I thought Priscilla left because she was tired of living alone, basically, with him always being on the road? Never heard her say he was abusive. The only gf I recall was the one when he died, Linda Thompson (?) never heard her say anything either.
There may be things we don’t know, I have just never heard anyone say he was abusive. I think he had guilt over the divorce though, according to some.
Beth & Jessie I never heard he was abusive either,I alsp thought Priscilla divorced because she was alone,I thought he was with a Ginger somebody when he died,It’s tragic when a celebrity dies and worse when you hear the gorey details of their life.
No i don’t believe guilt has a thing to do with drug abuse. IMO drugs are used to numb “PAIN” and sustain a stamina that is required to NEVER FAIL…..not guilt. Everyone you posted above was riddled with unhappiness that alot of times accompanies stardom and fame! Especially ones that came from dysfunctional backgrounds.
LIKE i posted on MJ article…everyone has their skeletons..some worse then others..all human beings.
well beth look it upWiki pedia .org Elvis presley . dont get me wrong I liked Elvis i was a fan but he had his false as well… look it up
Jessie I’m not doubting you, I’m sure he had his quirks, had just never heard any one say anything about abusive. I’ll read on it though.
Beth In the 70s ,
they never used the word abusive LOL
that’s true Jessie, I’m on wiki now, long page lol!
Did they really never use the word for Ike and Tina Turner?
Sorry but I dunno if I buy him being abusive, he didn’t seem the type really. I thought he went into drugs and etc. because he screwed up with his wife.
wikipedia is an iffy source to get info from because I can even edit the contents of the information and make them facts. Never was allowed to cite them in any paper or use them for any articles I wrote for our school paper.
wiki is a great source of info for biographical type info but anything criminal or the like is suspicious unless backed up with official links.
Welcome to Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
2,930,561 articles in English
*shrug* lol I still just not use it, I find info elsewhere.
I don’t know when the term abusive came about but I do recall Ike was abusive according to Tina.
yep very interesting,
I really loves Elvis
my first Hubb looked like him … LOL
I adore Elvis…was listening to him last night…he will NEVER DIE!
Jessie LOL My ex looked like Elvis too!LOL! BUT one night I went to sleep with Elvis and woke up next to Ernest Borgnine,I swear Elvis to Ernest in a night.
oops “loved” , there i go typo OHHHH Dear LOL BLAHHH
all the gossip ,if true, I have heard 30 years ago & not from wikipedia ..
and here is another opinion of mine ,,,
Drugs are an escape from reality , and M.Js reality was he molested little boys ,
it will all come out in the wash . Maybe his children may have stories when they are older, what about the Dr, who was staying there occasionly? geese M.J didn’t have a phone …..what about mcCaully clauklin (sry cant spell it) gotta look up why he slept with M.J… I dont think the media is finish with M.J, may he rest in peace …..
Sean thank you for writing about such a timely important topic, as usual.
I see some new posters – love hearing from them. WELCOME!!!
When I saw Elvis in that video, years ago, I knew he was NOT healthy. So easy to tell. I was worried…
Nothing short of a tragedy that the world lost such a talent way too soon. He as well lost out on a lot.
I believe that Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lewis and some others started using drugs when they were first starting out and traveling doing shows in different towns. Yes Elvis did love to shot up tv’s and that kind of thing. I think the drugs made his behavior out of control at times. He was a good man. He was very good to Memphis and our people. He gave a lot to Memphis and especially the children that were sick. St Jude and also the children’s hospital here. He did have his problems.
Most of these celebtities are probably the nicest people,most are very generous,but,drugs alter who YOU are.It’s a lifestyle,it would seem in the world of celebrities.I saw a documentary years ago ago about child stars,I was shocked to see the addiction.
I heard on Fox, that Michael always had a “mini-clinic” with him, AND an Anesthesiologist! Those Drs. belong in JAIL!!
He thought, and wanted, only 10 Concerts. THEY wanted 50. (Putting out their money up front – and have to get their pound of flesh I guess…)
A Dr. on Fox said in normal sleep, the body repairs itself. Anesthesia, puts the body into a deep coma. **They are QUITE different.** So WHY did they do that to him? $$$$$$$$$$.
This coming Tour was a new and grueling situation I think, and Michael must have wanted more of EVERYTHING … more pain killers, and more anesthesia. Was his current Dr. an Anesthesiologist? (I don’t think so.) His low “weight” should have entered into the equasion – I would think. I wonder if it did? No wonder he is gone, lose-lose situation. All those dangerous things escalating.
Seems with missing children, DRUGS are very often involved. With Stars, it seems, it’s both DRUGS AND MONEY VULTURES! As always, JMHO.
I don’t know if this was mentioned,but Diprivan isn’t only given IV,it’s dripped and NOT just dripped,it MUST be dripped via a pump,so the drops can be not only counted but documented,it’s called an IV infusion pump,WONDER if Michael had one?also,there are mini infusion pumps that can be implanted into a person and delivers a set amount of a narcotic pain med,and there is also a PCA Patient Controlled Anelgesic,the pt.presses a button when he has pain and the pump delivers a set amount,these prevent the person from overdosing by preventing a lethal dose from infusing,the dose is ordered by the physician(anesthesiologist)mixed by pharmacist put into a sterile container and is a closed system making it tamper-proof.IMO~Michael certainly would have known about these options,I wonder if the “needle”marks on his chest were from a pump insertion,it can be inserted in the same area as a pacemaker below the clavicle or in the abdomen area,JUST thinking out loud.Possibly Michael didn’t want a “normal” dose,he certainly looked in great shape at the rehearsal.
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well folks… i’ve gotta confess i don’t get the whole worship the celebrity junkie-freaks thing.
elvis died, horrendously overweight, with a drug-scarred liver that showed up on airport metal detectors, face-down in a pool of his own vomit with his pants around his ankles after tumbling off the toilet.
michael jackson’s best friend in the whole world was a chimp. he spent half his life turning himself into a younger version of elizabeth taylor. he dangled a baby over a balcony. he was arrested for child molestation.
call me wacky, but you people need some new role models.
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Neo I’m not sure how discussing famous people who succumbed to drug abuse via enabling doctors that ultimately resulted in their death is worship.I do not worship any man. I do, however, appreciate many for their talents that entertained the world & find it sad that they fell into a habit cost them their lives.
Far from roll models as well, their lives are not a path I would want to follow.
Elvis & MJ both were surrounded with doctors who enabled their addictions, yes their choice. But in what frame of mind & what was their understanding of the dangers, especially back in the 50s-60s?
Prescription drugs were deemed safe when many of these stars began taking them. Doctors were also trusted & many of these stars were caught up in run away train careers.
The industry as well pushes many celebrities to need drugs by pushing them to do more performance’s.
I think the point is it’s time for something to be done about doctors who cater to the rich & famous for profit over what’s best for them. If many of these celebrities had not been supplied the drugs things may have turned out differently.
BETH, right. Discussing – doesn’t mean WORSHIP. (see last 2 sentences here).
NEO, There has been a very interesting dialogue on a jazz site discussing WHY we like the kind of music we like, and which performers.
The undisputed answer we all came up with is – we like WHO we “liked” when we were teens, or in our early 20’s. THAT became the music of our life. Ask your friends what kind of music they like, or who they like. Take into consideration their age. Think about yourself in that situation. Do you too like the music and stars of your teens – early 20’s?
Maybe that explains some of us on this blog. Of course now, we are all pretty upset. MJ was much too young to die, and this wasn’t even a “normal death” – we are all pretty sure. It’s probably some level of murder! Enough to upset fans and all decent human beings.
I wonder if all these NEEDLESS deaths are enough to send these wonderful Drs. a RED FLAG? Maybe, maybe not.
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“beth says… I do, however, appreciate many for their talents that entertained the world”
i’m sure there are all kinds of folk who appreciate the top echelon of the third reich for their contributions to military tactics and strategy.
of course, that doesn’t mean they weren’t piss-poor excuses for human beings.
junkies… they kill themselves.
and it’s ugly & stupid.
get over it.
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Neo. You’ve made your opinion known. That’s fine you are entitled to it. But you are bordering on being insulting and confrontational. Just agree to disagree and move on.
Theres the bad in every “group” of people, you have people who are horrible in your work place,your neighbor,political figures,celebrities..etc thats life… Whats the point of your argument again? To say junkies are losers? Well bravo to you Neo for putting those with addiction problems down. As if you do not have you own vices and your poo doesn’t stink.
Compassion can go a long way and in the end you end up with good karma,god blesses you whatever you choose to believe in.
But then there are others cynical pessimistic people and those people do not add anything positive.. they sit and judge. What do they change? Nothing.
I prefer to have some compassion and understanding, if thats a weakness to anyone then to try to be uncaring and “different” must be their weakness…not a strength.
I’m sorry Neo, I can’t draw any parallel between the Nazi war crimes & talent.
Neo I don’t see anyone supporting immoral or illegal behaviors. The debate seems to be professionals who take an oath to preserve and protect life yet contribute to the death of these very well known people. I personally see it as professionals taking advantage for financial gain.
Entertainers are human beings who make mistakes just like you and I. Maybe a little compassion would go a long way.
I have to believe that no one famous or not, rich or not, ever wanted to be or thought that they would be addicted to a substance(s) – But for the grace of God, go I…………..