The Center for Disease and Control estimated that in 2017, 72,000 people died from overdoses in the United States. That works out to about 200 deaths per day or one every eight minutes! That is a 9.5% increase from the record high last year. Surely this is an epidemic, but we are slowly starting to see a change in the processes that led us here. Physicians are starting to look to healthier and non-addictive alternatives like physical therapy; pharmacists are able to track how many prescriptions are prescribed to each individual; and last but not least, government subsidies are being put into place to fund public-sector treatment facilities and methadone clinics. Overall, we are heading in the right direction, but this is not going to be solved overnight. There is still much more that needs to be done. This is why we have days like today to mark as a reminder to those we have lost and to those that still need saving. Please advocate with us, share your stories, and promote a change in legislation and addiction oversight. The more people who can understand the importance of this issue – the faster we can implement these solutions. So, the day before Recovery Awareness Month is National Overdose Day. In recognition, here’s a tribute to the many personalities we have lost. Please, if you have lost someone you loved, share their story. We know it can be hard, but these are the stories that will make a difference in the end.
John Belushi
(1949-1982) Profession: Actor Overdose Drug: Speedball
Chris Farley
(1964-1997) Profession: Actor Overdose Drug: Cocaine and Morphine
Judy Garland
(1922-1969) Profession: Singer, Actress Overdose Drug: Secobarbital
Jimi Hendrix
(1942-1970) Profession: Musician Overdose Drug: Barbituates
Philip Seymour Hoffman
(1967-2014) Profession: Actor Overdose Drug: Heroin, Cocaine, Benzodiazepines and Amphetamines
Whitney Houston
(1963 – 2012) Profession: Singer/Actress Overdose Drug: Cocaine
Michael Jackon
(1958-2009) Profession: Singer Overdose Drug: Lorazepam and Propofol
David A. Kennedy
(1955-1984) Son of Robert F. Kennedy Overdose Drug: Cocaine, Pethidine, and Thiridazine
Heath Ledger
(1979-2008) Profession: Actor Overdose Drug: Oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, diazepam, temazepam and doxylamine
Lil Peep
(1996 – 2017) Profession: Musician/Rapper Overdose Drug: Fentanyl and Xanax
Marilyn Monroe
(1926-1962) Profession: Actress Overdose Drug: Barbiturates **Officially ruled as a suicide**
Jim Morrison
(1943-1971) Profession: Musician Overdose Drug: Heroin
Tom Petty
(1950-2017) Profession: Musician Overdose Drug: Fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetyl fentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl
Elvis Presley
(1934-1977) Profession: Singer Overdose Drug: Fourteen drugs were involved; it is accepted they played a factor in his death, though whether they were the primary cause is debated
Prince
(1958-2016) Profession: Musician Overdose Drug: Fentanyl
Anna Nicole Smith
(1967-2007) Profession: Model Overdose Drug: Unspecified anti-depressants, diazepam, chloral hydrate, oseltamivir, methadone, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and human growth hormone
Ike Turner
(1931-2007) Profession: Musician, Producer Overdose Drug: Cocaine
Amy Winehouse
(1983-2011) Profession: Singer Overdose Drug: Alcohol
