Doctors killed Heath Ledger. Or so his Medical Examiner has concluded, according to his autopsy and toxicology screens.
According to TMZ, "The NYPD found five medications in Ledger's apartment after his death, including anti-anxiety medications alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan). The sleeping medication zopiclone (Lunesta) and the sedative temazepam (Restoril) -- which is used by people with "debilitating insomnia" -- were also found. Doxylamine is an antihistamine used in the short-term treatment of insomnia."
Now, I'm no Tom Cruise or proponent of alternative healing -- I put my faith in science and medical progress -- but it does seem prescription deaths are fast on the rise. The CDC reported that "unintentional poisoning" deaths due to overprescription or abuse of prescription drugs increased 63% from 1999 - 2004. Almost 21,000 people died of prescription drug overdoses in 2004 and Science Daily reported in 2006 that prescription pain killers were involved in more drug overdose deaths than heroin or coke in the U.S.
