Was Michael Jackson's death preventable?

So many people are speculating about what caused Michael Jackson's death. Was it due to drugs? Drug abuse? Prescription drug interactions? Did he have a bad heart? If toxicology tests are going to take six to eight weeks (according to Ed Winter, assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County), then we have plenty of time to speculate and throw ideas around. Will we discover the truth, or will it be hidden from the public?

A recent article in CNN talks about the possibility of drug interactions rooted in prescription opioid medications such as OxyContin and Demerol. Was Jackson in denial about potential drug problems? Demerol can have significant drug-drug interactions and cause serious problems. It's often used to treat patients who present to the emergency room for acute pancreatitis (in reality, almost any opioid will work to relieve pain, but demerol is used in "classic textbook cases." I won't go into the sphincter of Oddi right now). In a highly visible case, 18-year-old Libby Zion died in a New York hospital in 1984 presumably because of drug-drug interactions.

So, was Jackson's death a preventable death? If it was due to drug-drug interactions that could have been avoided, perhaps his story will serve as a public health campaign. To view the CNN article, click here. Image source: CNN

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

I've seen many patients who have needed some type of drug or alcohol rehabilitation. Do you know where to go to find help? It can be difficult to find a good drug rehab facility because of the social stigma associated with addiction problems. It's also very difficult for addicts to quit their addictions. I don't think that most people or family members would feel comfortable asking their friends and colleagues for referrals to rehab programs. However, it is important to find a good program that has the proper support structure and that centers around your beliefs and values.

Many celebrities fall into drug and alcohol addiction. Remember the musician Ray Charles? He was a heroin addict. The biographic movie about Ray Charles had some graphic scenes showing him go through heroin withdrawal. Heroin withdrawal can be difficult to witness at home, so it's important to have your loved one in a safe and professional environment. Ray Charles should have gone through a detox program and heroin rehab.