Corey Haim’s sudden death at the young age of 38 Wednesday morning, allegedly from an accidental drug overdose is indicative of the dangers of prescription drugs. So many people are addicted to and are dying from legally prescribed drugs. According to addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinksey, VH1’s host of “Celebrity Rehab”, Haim’s death came as no surprise. Dr. Drew tells MTV, “I never met Corey, but people brought his name up to me hundreds of times, and as I’m sure I’ve told you, this is just the beginning of a tidal wave of more of this.” “My patients are dying every day from medication prescribed by my peers. And it’s not just young Hollywood but all kinds of people and you don’t need illicit drugs anymore because pharmaceuticals are just as powerful.”
Heath Ledger, DJ AM and Brittany Murphy are other examples of recent deaths caused by addictions to illicit, prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. Death by prescriptions is an alarming trend that has been steadily growing for at least the past five years and continues to do so.
Haim is perhaps best known recently for his and Corey Feldman’s roles as “The Two Coreys,” the psychodrama where Haim revealed he was sexually abused as a child. Haim’s 1987 appearance in “The Lost Boys” was the pinnacle of his movie career. From that point, Haim was reportedly struggled with addictions to crack, alcohol, and prescription drugs for years.
Law enforcement confirmed to TMZ that Haim did indeed die from an overdose to drugs, and that Corey was in his mother’s apartment when he collapsed and died. Prescription drug bottles were found near his body. The LAPD has opened a death investigation which is normal protocol.
According to Alternative Health, drugs reviewed and approved by the FDA and their complications shockingly are the third leading cause of death in Americans following heart disease and cancer. Pharmaceuticals are just not that safe and when mixed and comingled by the average person with no medical expertise they can result in fatality.
It’s a sad commentary, all of these deaths. It seems people are very sad; they feel hopeless and alone and are trying to medicate themselves to escape the pain and reality of everyday life, be it emotional, physical, or spiritual.
Sources:
MTV.com: By Gil Kaufman: Corey Haim’s Death Underlines Dangers of Prescription Drugs, Dr. Drew
Says…03/10/2010
TMZ.com: by TMZ staff: Corey Haim— Drug OD, Sources say…3/10/2010
Alternativehealth.com: by Len Saputo, MD—Prescription Drugs that Can Kill You
