Opinion: I’ve treated scores of people like Tom Petty. Drugs are only part of their story
What, if anything, could have prevented Tom Petty's tragic death from an accidental overdose?
When a celebrity’s death first becomes public, news outlets usually report “cause of death unknown” or “died suddenly.” Weeks or months later, once the official autopsy and toxicology reports are completed, we discover what we may have already suspected. That was the cycle with Prince, and just happened again with Tom Petty — we recently learned that the legendary musician died of an accidental drug overdose.
Based on the toxicology report, multiple controlled substances were found in Petty’s system, including two types of , a potent synthetic opioid. Its deadly effect is staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of including fentanyl (and excluding methadone) surged from 3,105 in
