According to an anonymous law official who spoke to The Associated Press, test results have revealed that Prince’s death was the result of an opioid overdose.
The music legend died on April 21st at the age of 57 after he was found unconscious in his Minnesota home. Paramedics attempted CPR , but were unable to revive him.
Following his death, rumors of Price’s prescription drug abuse surfaced. The singer’s half siblings revealed to a judge that he had been addicted to percocet for over a decade. It was reported that Prince initially started taking the medication to help with pain after rigorous performances, and that he did not use the pills recreationally. According to CNN, investigators found prescription opioids on Prince as well as in his home.
According to attorney William Mauzy, the day prior to his death, his team allegedly called specialist Dr. Howard Kornfeld to help treat the singer for his addiction. Because it was an emergency, and Kornfeld could not immediately fly to Minnesota, he sent his son Andrew Kornfeld on an overnight flight. When Kornfeld arrived at Prince’s home, he, along with two Prince representatives, found the singer unconscious in an elevator. Kornfeld made the 911 call.
Investigators are currently reviewing whether or not Prince was prescribed the medication from a doctor. Though an autopsy was performed, no information has been publicly released.
UPDATE June 3, 2016: According to a new report by The Associated Press, recent autopsy information reveals that Prince died from an overdose of fentanyl, a prescription opioid painkiller that is 50 times more potent than heroin. It is unclear whether Prince obtained the drugs legally, but a friend of the singer confirmed that he suffered from intense hip and knee pain from years of performing.
