Hey there, friend. Let's talk about something that's been weighing heavy on a lot of hearts. It's been a while since the world lost the legendary Tom Petty, and now we finally have some answers about what really happened. On October 2, 2017, the music icon passed away, and at the time, the cause of death was listed as "deferred." But nearly four months later, his family, and all of us who loved him, can finally find some closure. According to an autopsy report obtained by TMZ on January 19, 2018, Tom Petty tragically lost his life due to an accidental drug overdose.
Now, let's break this down a little further. The L.A. County Coroner's report revealed that several of Tom's organs began to fail because of what they termed "mixed drug toxicity." It turns out, Tom was taking a number of medications prescribed for various health issues, including emphysema, a troublesome knee, and a fractured hip. What doctors found in his system was a cocktail of powerful drugs: oxycodone (Oxycontin), temazepam (Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), citalopram (Celexa), acetyl fentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl. That's quite the mix, and it's clear now just how dangerous these substances can be when combined.
A Look Back at the Iconic Tom Petty
Here's Tom (third from left) back in 1976 with the Heartbreakers, a band that brought us so many unforgettable moments.
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The Dangerous World of Fentanyl and Prescription Drugs
Fentanyl, a drug that's been linked to the deaths of other famous musicians like Prince and Lil Peep, has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. This opioid is considered even more dangerous than heroin if misused, and it was declared a public health crisis in Canada back in 2015. Tom Petty's family believes that his fractured hip was a major factor in his over-reliance on prescription drugs. Even at the age of 66, Tom was determined to keep touring despite his injuries. On the day of his fatal heart attack, his hip had become completely broken, causing him excruciating pain. He was using Fentanyl patches and pills in an attempt to manage that pain. Additionally, Tom was battling coronary artery atherosclerosis, a condition that likely contributed to his heart attack.
