The famous rapper Coolio died of an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Other factors contributed to his death as well, such as cardiomyopathy and asthma. In 1980, AC/DC lead vocalist Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning. In 1970, rocker Janis Joplin accidentally overdosed on heroin. After struggling with drug abuse for decades, rapper DMX died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in 2021.

Alcoholic Musicians (They Died from It, Quit, or Continue Drinking)

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Tom Petty’s death was caused by an accidental overdose due to mixed drug toxicity. Petty had been prescribed various drugs to treat knee issues, emphysema, and a fractured hip. He continued to tour through the pain of a broken hip, which made it worse and caused a full-on break. His family felt that, most likely, his pain was unbearable and caused the prescription drug addiction, which led to his accidental overdose. Sometimes a drug use disorder can start from medications prescribed by a physician, such as prescription opioids, and not from an illegal drug, as was the case with Michael Jackson.

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She later used hard drugs like heroin and crack cocaine while continuing to use alcohol to numb her mental health issues. Judy Garland was found dead in her bathroom on June 22, 1969, at the age of 47. Her autopsy revealed she had died from an accidental overdose of barbiturates. But years before her death, she had struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. From an early age, she struggled with mental health issues due to the pressures of early stardom. She was given pills to keep her energetic and thin during the filming of Wizard of Oz and sleeping pills at night.

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But in reality, they aren’t proven to become more addicted than non-musical people. However, drug use is big in the entertainment industry and there have been a lot of celebrities musicians who died from alcohol that had a substance abuse problem. Whitney died at the age of 48 from coronary artery disease, but she was also struggling with substance abuse at the time.

Celebrity Deaths That Changed Music History: Gone Too Soon

This may result in chronic insomnia and lethargy for which artists use uppers during the day and downers during the night to bring on merciful sleep. With her sultry voice and steely on-stage persona, Amphlett was one of the greats of Australian rock. We have expert addiction specialists standing by ready to speak confidentially with you.

• In 2017, rapper Lil Peep died of an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and Xanax.
• (His abuse also transformed his look from young hunk to Breaking Bad neo-Nazi villain.) Lester Young and Billie Holiday, dependent on the bottle and on each other, were dead at 49 and 44, respectively.
• Although Jackson had had his fair share of legal issues throughout his life, many people didn’t realize that he was suffering from an addiction to prescription medication.
• Our drug addiction treatment centers offer medical detox, mental health counseling, and other evidence-based services to help you or your loved one stay drug-free.
• Unfortunately, high-profile recording artists don’t often live long, healthy lives, and it is mainly due to drug and alcohol addiction and overdoses.

Later in life, after leaving the hospital after a bad fall, he experienced alcohol withdrawals. His ex-wife gave him vodka to ward off the delirium, and he was given four Tylenol PM tablets for his pain. Knowing how addiction affects these musicians who passed away from a drug overdose, the majority being accidental, reminds us that drug addiction can affect anyone and be rooted in various reasons. Addiction can affect anyone, and as some of these musicians’ lives have shown, sometimes it comes from prescription medications for a valid medical condition and under a physician’s care.

• The Grief Party created a dedicated, nonjudgmental space where people were not only allowed to share some of their deepest sorrows – but, in fact, were encouraged to do so.
• Died after drinking over one liter of vodka and choking on his vomit.
• Braise noted that in his decades of experience in the industry and law, alcohol is involved in the majority of cases.
• Fast fame can be a cruel mistress, however, and it wasn’t long before Winehouse’s drug and alcohol addiction led to erratic and poor performances, before finally resulting in her death in 2011.

Musicians Who Drank Themselves to Death

Jim Morrison