Singer Prince dies from fentanyl overdose
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 3, 2016
Legendary American singer Prince died from an overdose of an opioid drug, the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office officially announced in a report.
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Prince performs during his 'Diamonds and Pearls Tour' at the Earl's Court Arena in London, Britain, June 15, 1992. [Photo / chinadaily.com.cn] |
Toxicology tests for Prince's autopsy concluded that the singer died from an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl. The report didn't provide further details, only saying: "How injury occurred: The decedent self-administered fentanyl." For manner of death, a box was marked "accident."
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opiate, is 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It is often used by cancer patients to deal with severe pain.
Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died on April 21 at the age of 57. He was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio in Chanhassen. According to the report, Prince was discovered fully dressed, wearing "a black cap, black shirt, gray undershirt, black pants, black boxer briefs and black socks." He weighed 112 pounds at the time of his death.
The report said there were no "other significant conditions" that led to the superstar's death, refuting the stories that Prince had AIDS.
The full autopsy and toxicology reports will not be released, because under Minnesota law all other medical examiner data is considered private. The Medical Examiner's Office said that they couldn’t make any further comments about the investigation into Prince’s death, adding that the Carver County Sheriff's Office will continue the investigation.
Authorities have said that the investigation into Prince's death is a criminal investigation; questions remain over how Prince got the drugs and whether any doctors should be held responsible.
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