Greg Giraldo Death – Prescription Drugs Under Fire – Greg Giraldo is just the latest celebrity to die after overdosing on prescription medicine. He had long suffered from substance abuse problems, but most had thought that he had the biggest problem with alcohol, and apparently his prescription drug abuse was a relatively new problem for the star.
He was first brought to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for an overdose.It was initially reported that it was a suicide attempt, but those reports now appear to be false.
Last December, actress Brittany Murphy died from a heart attack. It was found that she had been suffering from pneumonia, iron deficiency, and a combination of drugs that she had been prescribed.
The adverse effects of many prescription drugs have been well documented and despite the fact that they can cause severe problems (including death) they are still readily prescribed to patients of all ages.
In Murphy’s blood they found Hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and chlorpheniramine. She had been mixing narcotic pain relievers with over the counter cough and cold solutions. Apparently, it did not mix well with the health problems that she was suffering form, and ultimately contributed to her death.
Heath Ledger, who famously starred in “The Dark Knight” after his death also died from a prescription drug overdose. He was on a number of substances including oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, tamazepam, alprazolam and doxulamine.
It is clear that prescription drugs have become a serious problem in Hollywood in recent years. These deaths, along with the death of Michael Jackson should draw increased scrutiny toward the situation.