Did a Drug Overdose Play a Role in Death of Prince?

Author: Justin Mckibben

This week the world lost yet another incredible and iconic artist who gave so much originality and uniquely inspiring efforts to creating a sound and a vibe that changed music. Doves cry now, along with the countless legions of fans and close friends mourning the genius mind of cultural and artistic innovation that was Prince.

Shortly after his tragic passing this week at the young age of 57, Prince’s legacy is being celebrated all over the world- but not unlike many other rock stars before him, his untimely death is being questioned and queried over by sources everywhere while the official cause of death is awaited, and some are looking at the last week of his life to see if a rumored opiate overdose had anything to do with the health issues that stole from this world a brilliant and phenomenal purple light so soon.

The Life of THE Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson was born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since becoming a household name he has been known simply by the alias Prince, while also transitioning to “The Artists Formerly Known as Prince” and even changed his stage name in 1993 to an unpronounceable symbol known as the “Love Symbol” for a brief time. Prince was a verbose and versatile man, described as:

• Singer
• Songwriter
• Multi-instrumentalist
• Record producer
• Actor

Prince was legendary as an innovator, and has been vastly venerated for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. As the pioneer of Minneapolis sound, Prince’s music integrates a wide variety of styles, including:

• Funk
• Rock
• R&B
• Soul
• Psychedelia
• Pop

His album Prince released in 1979 and the successful singles featured on the playlist skyrocketed his record to platinum status. Since then his achievements in the realm of music have amplified, including:

• Selling over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
• Winning 7 Grammy Awards
• Winning a Golden Globe Award
• Winning an Academy Award

Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year of his eligibility. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

As if that wasn’t enough, he wrote a Batman album!

This man was a stellar performer, a visionary who was hip to the vigilante in all of us, and he could just SHRED a guitar like nobody’s business! He pushed boundaries of the typical American man in fashion and style, and he inspired artists for decades after his first hit.

6 Days before Death of Prince

Prince was exceptional about keeping his personal life pretty private, so many have wondered how such a heartbreaking development happened so fast, and how a presumably healthy vegetarian such as Prince could die at only 57 years old.

Now according to various sources which reported to the tabloid TMZ, Prince was treated just 6 days before his death for a drug overdose.

Prince’s private jet made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois last Friday, hours after he performed in Atlanta. Originally the shows had been postponed when his reps said he was battling the flu. Then after his emergency landing people started questioning this reasoning because his plane was only 48 minutes from home when it made the stop. Why was this flu issue so urgent?

Multiple sources in Moline reported to TMZ that Prince was rushed to a hospital and doctors gave him a “save shot,” which sounds a lot like a Naloxone-type-deal… but could be an emergency flu shot… maybe… if that is a thing? Typically a “save shot” like Naloxone administered to counteract the effects of an opiate.

TMZ has published that further sources stated that doctors advised Prince to stay in the hospital for 24 hours, but that this plan was abandoned after Prince couldn’t get a private room. Prince was released 3 hours after arriving and flew home.

Goodbye to The Purple One

Currently authorities in Minnesota are trying to get the hospital records from his visit to Moline to help determine cause of death, and at the time this article was written Prince’s reps were not able to be reached for comment.

Prince was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m. Thursday, April 21 after begin found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park Studios. While an investigation has been launched into the cause of death, the autopsy is scheduled for today, meaning we may have developments at any moment.

Is Prince another victim of too many pills and not enough people protecting his health? Or is this all just speculation and rumor? Was his privacy a cause for concern, or is it this very kind of speculation and invasive assumption he was avoiding while staying out of the public eye? We have no authority at this time to make an assumption on the cause of death, nor would I as a writer wish to tarnish the name of such an amazing musician… but that being said the emergency landing story does raise a question whether we like it or not. In the past we have seen how the incredibly famous have been pumped full of drugs, be it for legitimate medical reasons (which is possible considering Prince’s health history with the need for hip surgery) or otherwise illicit drug use, and allowed to teeter on the edge for far too long before it costs them their lives.

For now, all we can do is say goodbye to Alexander Nevermind… Jamie Starr… Joey Coco… the Prince who changed lives with Purple Rain and taught us how to party like its 1999 back when it was only 1982. He gave us the Batdance, and he was the baddest soul brother to tear up a stage with a guitar that looked like a chunk of purple abstract art. Remembered as a kind and ambitious force of conviction and astounding talent. Thank you, Prince… for the life you gave to the world.

“A strong spirit transcends rules.”

-Prince

Artists, musicians, celebrities of all kinds face the same temptations, and sometimes the same circumstances when it comes to substance abuse and addiction, and some have not survived their struggles with substances. While this may not apply to Prince, the message here could at least be that life is precious and every opportunity to make yours better should be a priority. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135