It’s been almost two month’s since the untimely passing of musical iconPrince, bornPrince Rogers Nelson. It was finally revealed today what caused hisdeath, with the Midwest Medical Examiner’s office releasing an official statement.Princedied from an accidental drug overdose. He was taking the opioid painkiller fentanyl.
TheAssociated Presswas the first to release the news. The singer and songwriterpassed awayon April 21 at his Minnesota home and studio affectionately known as Paisley Park.Prince Rogers Nelsonwas just 57 at the time of his death.
In the week leading up to his death,Princehad become hospitalized. Sources close to the singer claimed he was suffering from a bout of the flu. Anautopsywas performed immediately after his passing. The office statement from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office said this.
“Gathering the results will take several days and the results of a full toxicology scan could likely take weeks.”
In the days followingPrince’s death, medical director of a California outpatient addiction clinic Dr.Howard Kornfeldconfirmed that he was scheduled to meet withPrincein Minneapolis on April 22. He was set to devise a treatment plan for the 80s icon.Kornfeld’s son Andrew actually went in his place, arriving at Paisley Park on the morning ofPrince’s death. It wasAndrewwho foundPrinceunconscious and called 911.
Andrew Kornfeldhad Suboxone in his possession that morning. The drug is used to treat opioid cravings, and was intended forPrince.Kornfeldhanded the drug over to the authorities. Fentanyl falls into the opioid class of drugs, which also includes such prescriptionspainkillersas hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. It also includes heroin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that opioids are responsible for the majority of fatal drug overdoses across the globe. In the states, the drug is responsible for 14,000 deaths in 2014 alone. Most prescriptions from a doctor. It isn’t known what further information will be released aboutPrince’s death at this time, but we will keep you updated if more news breaks.
