According to the NY Daily News, the NYC Medical examiner says that an accidental overdose caused Heath Ledger’s death:
Actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of six
prescription drugs, including painkillers, sleeping pills and
anti-anxiety medication, the medical examiner ruled Wednesday.The
28-year-old "Brokeback Mountain" star consumed a toxic blend of
medications: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam
and doxylamine."We have concluded that the manner of death is
accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications,"
spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a statement.The drugs are the generic names for the OxyContin painkiller, the
anti-anxiety drug Valium, Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug and the sleep
aids Restoril and Unisom. Hydrocodone is another name for ibuprofen.Pix by Corkery Service
Accidental? Hardly.
A sixth grader would realize that such a cocktail is deadly. Unfortunately, Mr. Ledger was a relapsed addict who must have despised his life so much that his only refuge was a mixture of pain killers, sleeping pills and sedatives. I find it hard to believe any one physician had prescribed those meds. Much more likely he obtained them on the street or through his professional connections. He was apparently looking for a way out of his pain. Successful, he left pain for his parents and daughter. His father’s words were moving and his family deserves their privacy to mourn in peace. Such a great talent. Perhaps his death will serve some purpose: perhaps a greater awareness of the danger of prescription drug abuse. I doubt it, however.
HEATH ALERT
He counted on Ambien
And with it he dozed
But he counted too many
Now the Ledger is closed.