The federal drug laws were a response to the rampant opiate addiction problem in the USA at the end of the 19th century. Over the years, we have learned that addictive drugs change the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier. By mimicking various neurotransmitters, they activate the mesolimbic reward system deep within the brain. The brain’s metabolism is altered, craving is created, and one’s personality is changed.
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Making her first on-screen appearance in the 1947 film “Dangerous Years,” Monroe was often cast as the flighty, spunky blonde bombshell, the kind of role she was born to play. Monroe was known for her relationships with huge stars, too, including her brief marriage to New York Yankees slugger Joe Dimaggio, as well as rumored affairs with John F. Kennedy and Marlon Brando. In the 1980s, Margaux Hemingway was as hot a supermodel as there was. However, like a meteor that burns too brightly in the sky, Hendrix faced a rapid descent.
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The famous American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Tom Petty, lost his life to accidental drug overdose. Drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetylfentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl were behind the star’s tragic death. But tragically, almost a year to the day later, Perry was found dead at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023, with his passing partially attributed to opioid usage and an overdose of ketamine. Some of his biggest roles were still to come, though, including his part as Plutarch Heavensbee in the “Hunger Games” films. The last two “Hunger Games” films with Hoffman were released posthumously.
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Best known for his beloved character on the TV show “Glee,” Cory Monteith’s life came to a devastating halt due to a deadly mixture of heroin and alcohol. The co-use of these substances magnifies their individual dangers, creating a lethal cocktail that can severely depress the central nervous system. The legendary Michael Jackson’s life was cut short by an overdose of propofol in 2009. This potent anesthetic can be lethal when misused, as it may halt breathing. Jackson’s tragic end not only left a void in the music industry but also spotlighted the extreme risks involved in using potent medications outside their intended medical applications.
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Professional wrestler, Chyna passed away from an accidental overdose on prescription drugs. Before he knew it, his addiction finally caught up with him, leading to a very untimely death and making him a part of our list of celebrities who overdosed. Highly acclaimed American actress and singer Whitney Houston is also one of the celebrities who overdosed. Houston had grappled with drug use and addiction, going in and out of rehab throughout her career. On July 3, 1971, the lead vocalist of The Doors was found dead in his Paris apartment. While the absence of an autopsy has left the cause of Morrison’s death evasive, some individuals close to Morrison during that time have disclosed that he likely died of a heroin overdose.
Monroe originally worked as a model and moved into acting by 1946, per the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She rose to prominence Alcoholics Anonymous as a sex symbol, appearing in the inaugural issue of Playboy magazine in 1953 (per Business Insider) and rubbing shoulders with the likes of President Kennedy (per People). Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she was shuffled between many sets of foster parents (via Britannica). With critically acclaimed performances in “Stand By Me” and “My Own Private Idaho,” River Phoenix had established himself as a respected actor. Mathis stated that she found Phoenix convulsing on the pavement outside the club. Speaking of celebs who died from overdose, Ike Turner makes an interesting case as, unlike most, he died at the age of 76.
- Known for starring in the coming-of-age film Stand by Me (1986), River Phoenix was poised to be one of the biggest actors of the 80s and 90s.
- The 57-year-old musician joins a lengthy list of celebrities who have died as a result of substance addiction.
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After going to rehab for cocaine addiction and joining Alcoholics Anonymous, he’s more comfortable and has avoided any harmful substances since. However, Zac did admit that battling his addictions is a “never-ending struggle”. Although he’s been in and out of rehab endless times, Charlie’s actually on the road to recovery now. Former NFL player Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb died of a heroin overdose in 1963, the year after he retired from professional football. Comedian Fuquan Johnson was one of three people to overdose from a fentanyl-laced batch of cocaine that killed him and one other person in Los Angeles on Sept. 3, 2021.
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Comedy just wasn’t the same after John Belushi crashed onto screens through Saturday Night Live and movies like Animal House. The guy threw his whole body into every performance, creating characters that comics still try to match today. Those crazy eyebrows and total commitment made him the real deal in late 70s entertainment. When he died in 1982 from that cocaine and heroin mix at the Chateau Marmont, it hit the entertainment world like a ton of bricks. Flip through comedy shows today and you’ll spot Belushi’s DNA everywhere – his ghost lives on in performers still chasing that lightning-in-a-bottle energy he had. Drugs, depression, and crushing pressure create a perfect storm for many stars.
- This section explores the representation of celebrity overdose deaths in local news programs and the potential for distorted portrayals.
- This is primarily due to the prevalence of drugs around them, the easy access and the money available to them.
- The American-Canadian actor was mostly known or playing Chandler Bing on the world famous TV Series “Friends”, a role that gave him the prestige and fame that he could not control.
- According to his autopsy report, the combination of heroin and alcohol in his system was so toxic and dangerous that he died within minutes after injecting himself.
- He died of a fentanyl overdose in his hometown of Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57.
- When he returned to Los Angeles in late October 1993, he almost immediately went on a drug binge.
If anything, these instances serve as cautionary tales that emphasize the urgent need for effective, evidence-based intervention strategies. Legendary fitness guru Richard Simmons was found dead in his home by his housekeeper after taking a big step back from the spotlight in recent years. The TV celebrities who died from drugs personality, who was 76 at the time of his passing, died following an accidental fall …
Unfortunately, his memorable career was cut short in early 1982, the result of an ongoing drug addiction and a shocking manslaughter case that left Belushi dead. Troyer also dealt with health issues for his entire life due to a rare form of dwarfism that, combined with alcohol abuse, contributed to his death in 2018. The 49-year-old actor suffered alcohol intoxication and was hospitalized not long before his death, which was officially declared to be purposefully self-inflicted. The troubled actor, in and out of rehab for most of his adult life, died in 2023 at the age of 54. The autopsy report said the cause was an accidental overdose of fentanyl. A coroner’s report two months after his passing revealed the cause of Cloud’s death to be an unintentional overdose of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines.
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The opioid, intended to alleviate pain, has created more of that for its victims’ families, loved ones, and fans. VIBE, somberly, recalls celebrities who have passed away due to fentanyl poisoning. Throughout his life, Elvis was a long-time abuser of opiates in efforts to manage pain.