7 Strategies for Avoiding the Kind of Overdose That Ended Tom Petty's Life
Tom Petty died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication.
By Ruben Castaneda, Staff Writer |Jan. 30, 2018, at 1:00 p.m.
Like tens of millions of Americans, rock star Tom Petty took prescription medications, including opioids, to alleviate pain. The recent announcement by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner that Petty's death on Oct. 2 was caused by an accidental drug overdose as a result of mixing medications that included opioids underscores the risks associated with taking prescription pain medications, particularly for patients who use multiple prescription drugs, doctors say.
"No doubt about it, pain medication, particularly the powerful opioids that are used for severe or chronic pain, are a true double-edged sword," says Dr. Marc I. Leavey, a primary care specialist at Mercy Personal Physicians in Lutherville, Maryland. "Used properly, they can provide relief of pain and allow the patient to regain productivity; improper use can lead to death."
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-01-30/7-strategies-for-avoiding-the-kind-of-overdose-that-ended-tom-pettys-life
