It’s been almost a year since Prince died, and still many people don’t know how it happened. It didn’t just shock the music industry, but the whole country. FindaTopDoc explores the death of Prince, his career, his health throughout his life, and the drug that killed him.
After reports of influenza and loss of consciousness on his private jet on April 21, 2016, Prince was found unconscious in his home by emergency responders. After attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead. No signs of foul play or suicide were found. Later, a press release from a medical examiner’s office stated that Prince died of an accidental overdose of the drug fentanyl. He was 57 years old.
Details about Prince’s death
One of the paramedics who arrived on scene stated that Prince had been dead for about six hours, and an initial investigation found no evidence of foul play or suicide.
Authorities announced they found nearly two dozen pills in mislabeled bottles in Prince’s possession. The bottles were labeled to contain pills of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, but many of the pills were found to contain fentanyl, a very powerful painkiller. Tests showed Prince had fentanyl in his system as well, according to a report in Vanity Fair.
On June 2, full findings of the autopsy were released and cited Prince died from an accidental dose of the drug fentanyl. It also cited that Prince was severely underweight, weighing only 112 pounds at the time of his death. A further investigation supported that Prince did not have an addiction to fentanyl, as it did not show up in his system when he sought treatment for Percocet addiction.
What is fentanyl and how does it kill?
Fentanyl is an opioid drug used as an anesthetic or painkiller. It is often prescribed by doctors along with benzodiazepine drugs to induce sleep before having procedures such as an endoscopy or surgery. It is also given to patients with cancer pain. Fentanyl is a very powerful painkiller, and it is described as 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. In the hospital, fentanyl is given in injection form for fast-acting effects. You can only get fentanyl from a doctor.
Fentanyl works in the central nervous system, blocking impulses that result in the sensation of pain. In the process, it also reduces vital functions such as control of body temperature, consciousness, and respiration. Fentanyl is popular as a drug because it is very addictive. Because of its high potential for abuse, it is a schedule II drug, along with drugs such as oxycodone, amphetamines, hydrocodone, codeine, and hydromorphone. Prescriptions of drugs like fentanyl are often listed and tracked in a state-wide registry.
Overdose can lead to death. Fentanyl can cause breathing to depress so low that the person might suffocate. Since fentanyl causes the body temperature to become uncontrollably high, the person’s core temperature can become so high that it results in shock and loss of consciousness. An overdose of fentanyl often leads to seizures, coma, and very shallow breathing, respiratory arrest, and death.
In the case of Prince, according to the medical report, he may have self-administered fentanyl and experienced an overdose that caused his death. There is no supporting evidence that Prince abused fentanyl for a long period of time, as levels in his blood are consistent with short-term use.
In Prince’s case, fentanyl was found in counterfeit bottles labeled to have acetaminophen/hydrocodone. Prince could have obtained the drugs illegally, as records show he had no prescription records in the state of Minnesota in the past 12 months.
Prince’s early life
Prince, or Prince Rogers Nelson, was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was born to John Lewis Nelson and Mattie Della, who were talented singers and performers themselves. Prince has a sister, Tika Evene, who is also a singer. His parents divorced and separated by the time he was 10 years old. He struggled with poverty and was bullied in school, mainly due to having seizures.
According to Prince himself, he had epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures, or epilepsy, is a longstanding disorder where the person experiences frequent fits of seizures. The causes of epilepsy, in most cases, is not known. Anti-epileptic drugs are given to reduce the incidence of seizures; most of these medicines should be taken on a regular basis whether seizures are present or not. In most patients, the frequency of seizures reduces as they become older, and seizures often go away completely by the time the person reaches adulthood. Seizures can also lead to many psychological issues, such as low self-esteem and insomnia.
Prince did not seem physically or emotionally healthy during his childhood years. However, his background served as inspiration for him to create his unique sound.
About FindaTopDoc.com
FindaTopDoc.com is a hub for all things medicine, featuring detailed descriptions of medical professionals across all areas of expertise, and information on thousands of healthcare topics. Each month, millions of patients use FindaTopDoc to find a doctor nearby and instantly book an appointment online or create a review. FindaTopDoc.com features each doctor’s full professional biography highlighting their achievements, experience, patient reviews and areas of expertise. A leading provider of valuable health information that helps empower patient and doctor alike, FindaTopDoc enables readers to live a happier and healthier life. For more information about FindaTopDoc, visit http://www.findatopdoc.com.
SOURCE: International Association of HealthCare Professionals
This press release is distributed by PR NewsChannel. Your News. Everywhere.
