The Bald Truth: Heath Ledger Accidental OD!
By Bald Truth Staff, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
Actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental prescription drug overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety meds, according the New York City medical examiner.
“Mr. Heath Ledger died as a result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine,” said Ellen Borakove, the department spokeswoman, in a statement issued Wednesday morning. “We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.”
The listed drugs are generic names for the painkiller OxyContin, the anti-anxiety drug Valium, another anti-anxiety drug called Xanex and sleeping aids Restoril and Unisom.
An Oscar nominee for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain,” Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment Jan. 22. He was 28.
Ledger’s parents, after memorial services in the U.S., have returned to their native Australia, where they plan to bury his body or cremated remains in Perth after a private service this week.
Responding to the ruling by the Medical Examiner, the Ledger family released this statement Wednesday:
“We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today’s results put an end to speculation, but our son’s beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts. While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.
“Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.
“We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.
“At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography.”
February 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hi Art
How sad that this has happened again to another young talented actor.
It would seem that he must of been seeing different Doctors as I can not see 1 Doctor prescibing all these medications at once
I think alot of people think oh it’s just a little pill and do not realize that mixing some of these drugs together is a deadly cocktail.
Now that the results are out I hope the media will stop all the stories and let his family grieve in peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
What a lucky man Heath was to have those kind, compassionate parents. I hope their grief lessens in time.
Did anyone catch the ad during the Super Bowl about drug dealers not being on the corner anymore? All kids have to do now days is roam thru their parents medicine chests? Education is surely the key.
My youngest child is soon to graduate. In her gov. class they have to present a thought in front of the school board on what would benefit the school and/or community. I requested that she explore the dangers of addiction and the different avenues that kids are taking these days, to cope with our world. As adults we all handle stress differently but kids don’t have the same coping skills.
Kids acting out in class are labeled ADHD and prescribed. Bad home life leads to substances to numb their thoughts and feelings. Oxycontin has been such a problem for our community that a task force was assembled and doctors put on watch. It is a rampant and consuming problem in all walks of life and the ‘just say no’ campaign just didn’t work. Until people and doctors recognize that the cycle of addiction continues to have a stranglehold on our society, there will be more senseless deaths.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
What happened to Heath Ledger is such a tragedy. Just what like happened to Anna Nicole Smith, her son, Daniel, and most recently, Brad Renfro. Let’s hope Britney Spears stays in care until she is sufficiently recovered so that she doesn’t face the same fate these other celebrities did.Also
it is good to see that Michelle Williams is on good terms with Ledger’s family, and will be getting future access to their young grandaughter, Matilda. This has to be hard for Williams, too, even though her relationship with Ledger had broken up, he was the father of her 2 year old daughter.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Heath Ledgers family has carried themselves with dignity and class. They asked that the media await the reports from the ME’s office to find out what happened.They did not jump on the band wagon to make money from his death.They just wanted to take him home for interment.It is such a shame that people do not realise that the interactions can work against you. It is so easy to mix meds that should not be taken at the same time or that are used for the same thing.In this case it was a 28 year old that had everything to live for.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
‘This’ seems to be a ‘common’ thread on your site…
Substance abuse, rather it’s over-the-counter, all natural, or prescribed.
3 cents.
(50 equals more!!!)
February 6th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I come from an age of ‘paste-up’ and ‘clip art’ and a revolution called state-of-the-art.
Yet, times really haven’t changed much, and history does repeat itself.
And, I’m ‘relatively’ young for ‘these days.’
The wind is starting to really blow hard here, yet the worst is over, I hope.
That ‘cocaine’ song may not apply here, yet…
It’s really ‘The Same Old Song.’
RIP
February 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Wow, what a difference between this family and Virgie Arthur. The Ledger family aren’t out looking for someone to blame, sue or defame in the media, nor look for “media deals’ to profit off the death of their son. I have total respect for the Ledger family and wish them well.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Those TV news people who were eagerly waiting to make mincemeat of Mary Kate Olsen can now rest in peace themselves. I do not believe there are fanatics such as those in Anna Nicole’s saga who are willing to stir up trouble for their enjoyment. Then again, we can all prod Virgie to go bark, run and fetch in Australia, so that we may never see her face in the US again.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
tHESE SO YOUNG PEOPLE, ALIVE, BEATIFUlL, POPULAR, THE WORLD AT THEIR FEET, SO TO SPEAK, AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. Doctors for the stars, are so prevailent,in and around Hollywood, they give out these drug cocktails, like candy. some own private clinics, like the one Lindsy Lohan was seeing, and the cocktail he had made up for her, had 3 drugs, that Anna had in hers. ALL lethal, if taken wrong. I think the reason Lindsay did’nt want to take that treatment, was because she would have to stay at the clinic. If they are out there on their own, and have these meds to take,like Anna Nicole, more should be better. And when they have had alcohol, besides, it is deadly. Jerry Brown, has been in around Hollywood, for years, and if he is investigating, 3 or 4 drs, then he had better investigate, all of them.. Anyone can start a witch hunt, anytime, and it is the hunted that are hurt. The witches, keep going and going, like the PINK RABBIT.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
How long is it going to take for people to wake up about mixing medications or booze or drugs. Didn’t yall hear the song on Sesame street ‘ONE OF THESE THINGS DOESN’T BELONG TOGETHER LA LA LA?”
There was so much codeine in those meds no wonder he died. Sedatives, antihistamines whatever if you mix some of these things with grapefuit juice it can cause lethal effects.
There needs to be a control on any meds there needs to accoutability to doctors who do this over perscribing and hold them accountable. However before that happens we need to know what is toxic before we ingest it that can only come from your friendly neighbourhood pharmasist and it should be only one pharmasist that is doing the pills on a computer system with all the meds on board. My deepest sympathies to the families and to his small daughter.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
It is so refreshing to see parents handle such a tragedy with grace, as Heath’s parents are doing. My deepest sympathy to them for their loss.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
sad. it happens to alot people. that’s what happen to anna and her son. howard didn’t murder anyone. una flor para howard e familia.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
That statement was heart wrenching and written with grace and pure class expressing their grief.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Extremely sad.
Heath’s father sternly told the press that he was demanding respect. End of Speculation.
I do wonder if the DEA is investigating because not all the drugs in his system where at the scene?
RIP
February 7th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Hmmm…American Doctors seem to prescribe “willy nilly”…then SOOOO many DIE…Hmmmm???
I take 500mg of Vitamin C daily…I CHOOSE TO DO THIS!!!…sadly a relative HUNG himself…guess he was making a point… {his father will never forget the “image”}
Sadly the “celebs” do not know how to look after themselves…hence the HUGE amount of SUICIDES/DEATHS!
STUPID COMMENT…don’t do DRUGS!!!! then you won’t DIE!!!
February 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Missy weeps
I agree with your statement. The thing with Pharmacist is that many times these prescriptions are filled at different pharmacys. So Unless they are all linked, its hard to know.
I remember reading that some of the prescriptions were written out of the country is that know for sure.
Certain anti depressents and anti anxiety medication cannot be mixed with OTC vitamins and herbs. They can be very dangerous. It states on the package of cold/flu/sinus medicine not to take if you are using MAOI drugs.
I think the public needs to be educated more on the dangers of prescription drugs. Its not the illegal drugs that are killing people anymore.
With the cases of ANS, Heath Ledger and many we dont know about it needs to be a priority. Look at the numbers of celebrities checking themselves in most recent Kirsten Dunst, Delta Burke and Eva Menendes they must be getting wake up calls. With Brittney hers is Mental illness but the reports of Sam Lufty grinding up seroquel and resperadol in her food that is very frightning.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Michelle, Williams, had taken their little girl and left Heath last Aug. She left because of his constant drinking and partying.She said he really got dark after that, He missed his daughter 2 yr. old Matilda Rose. and did not get to see her as much as he wanted. Michelle, is blaming her self now. This i read in the rag mag-STAR
February 7th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
This is just the saddest thing to hear.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Very sad. I do hope that Michelle is not blaming herself.
I do not believe most of what I read unless a selected few
say it. Like the Associated Press or one or two respected
jounalists. Art is one of them. It was an accidental combination of drugs done by Heath, it is no ones fault.
May he rest in peace, he will be missed and loved always.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Where do you put it when you have a thought, and maybe not an appropriate catagory?..
But again, this may work.
Another tragedy in the making with the rising star of Amy Winehouse. Without the glitz and glamour of Britney or the star power of Heath, but headed for the same destiny as too many before them.
Tonight a great presentation of the Grammys musical stars. Old and new all wrapped into one. Many great trips down memory lane and many with days dwindling in the light of the spotlight and some just starting to shine. But from my vantage point and watching Amy just learn that she had won Album of the Year. It was a great sight. She looked healthier. Still skinny and a little shaky on her feet but maybe the worst is behind her. And the look on her Mom’s face was priceless. Such pride and maybe for a brief moment she had her hope back. If only some can see that there is a tomorrow and there will be joy again, and hope. That pill or shot doesn’t erase the pain/confusion, only numbs it.
Anyway, sorry to take up your bandwidth Art, but I’m hoping to hear of no more tragedies.
March 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I once read that what determines class is how well a person acts when life is at its very worst. The Ledger family acted with total class under the most difficult of circumstances. I admire them immensely. I believe Heath Ledger suffered from severe manic depression just like Patty Duke and had he received the proper diagnosis and been given the proper medication (possibly lithium) he would be alive today. What a waste of a young and talented life because the doctors he saw treated his symptoms instead of the illness.