Fentanyl: The Drug That Killed Prince
Prince’s fans received another blow today upon release of his autopsy results, which revealed that the pop superstar had died of an overdose of Fentanyl.
Dubbed “heroin’s deadly cousin” by the New York Times, Fentanyl is a powerful opiate analgesic known to be up to 50 times more potent than morphine. Prince, 57, had been treated for a potential overdose about a week before his death, in an episode which caused his private jet to make an unscheduled landing in Moline, Illinois, due to a medical emergency.
The press release about the singer’s autopsy results came in a tweet, according to USA Today. The announcement said that the medical examiner would not be making further comment, as the Carver County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into Prince’s death.
Prince Rogers Nelson investigation results attached pic.twitter.com/CMt6lQSGxJ
— Midwest Medical Exam (@MidwestMedExam) June 2, 2016
Officials are on the hunt for Prince’s supplier and what prescriptions he had been given. The investigation is being assisted by the federal DEA and the U.S. Justice Department.
According to Romper, many sources say Prince was addicted to painkillers before his 112-pound body was found slumped in an elevator in his Paisley Park home in Carver County outside Minneapolis.
#Prince Weighed 112 Pounds and 4 Other Revelations From Autopsy https://t.co/JIcIaQ6tqM pic.twitter.com/lUsucnvg1Y
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) June 2, 2016
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a “powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine.”
“It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to opiates.”
According to KMTV, dealers cut it into other drugs to sell to unsuspecting buyers.
This tactic is an effective one, because Fentanyl is so addictive that a dose intended for a certain high one week will require a larger dosage as soon as a few days later.
According to @NIDAnews, fentanyl, a schedule II drug, is typically used to “treat patients with severe pain.” https://t.co/jK5U1NzV99
— NPR (@NPR) June 2, 2016
Like most drugs, Fentanyl goes by many other names. In its prescription form, it is known as Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze. Street names for the drug include Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, friend, goodfella, jackpot, murder 8, TNT, and Tango and Cash.
Sadly, at the time of his death, Prince appeared to be reaching out for help with his addiction. Romper reports that he had an appointment with an addiction specialist named Howard Kornfeld, scheduled for April 22.
[Image via Northfoto/Shutterstock]
