# Prince Dead at 57 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [April 21, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828 "2016-04-21T16:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/201 "2016-05-06T00:00:16Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > If he was junkie, it would explain a LOT. > Don’t know how far back the junkie-dom started, but being ‘shy’, ‘a private person’ - SPECIAL somehow - changing his name to a symbol??? - all that esoteric better than the foul smelling rabble crap - all points to a doper extraordinaire. > > And what’s the big deal? It seems most musicians kick off from overdoses, with big smiles on their faces, LEGENDS who left us “far, far too early”. Well, DUH. That’s what they do. When you become famous you are legally obligated to sniff, snort, swallow anything and everything, because you can afford it, you are supposed to do it to be ‘cool’ and above the hoi polloi, and cause massive rending of garments and weeping when you croak. When was the last time you heard of a rock star dying from falling off the orphanage roof while nailing on a new roof? When was the last time you heard of a rock star giving to a hospital, an animal shelter, abused womens shelter, abused children? No, it’s all drugs and drugs and drugs and me me me. No wonder he never made a will, he was most likely in a stupor most of his career and couldn’t be bothered with petty real life. Well, I hope you feel better, because otherwise, there is nothing of value coming out of this post. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/202 "2016-05-06T02:05:22Z")
The Venn diagram of rock stars who legendary abused drugs and legendarily did benefits, supported charities, and were politically and community active… … is a circle. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/203 "2016-05-06T02:44:59Z")
Peter Gabriel would break with that stereotype, too. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/204 "2016-05-06T05:28:56Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > If he was junkie, it would explain a LOT. > Don’t know how far back the junkie-dom started, but being ‘shy’, ‘a private person’ - SPECIAL somehow - changing his name to a symbol??? - all that esoteric better than the foul smelling rabble crap - all points to a doper extraordinaire. > > And what’s the big deal? It seems most musicians kick off from overdoses, with big smiles on their faces, LEGENDS who left us “far, far too early”. Well, DUH. That’s what they do. When you become famous you are legally obligated to sniff, snort, swallow anything and everything, because you can afford it, you are supposed to do it to be ‘cool’ and above the hoi polloi, and cause massive rending of garments and weeping when you croak. When was the last time you heard of a rock star dying from falling off the orphanage roof while nailing on a new roof? When was the last time you heard of a rock star giving to a hospital, an animal shelter, abused womens shelter, abused children? No, it’s all drugs and drugs and drugs and me me me. No wonder he never made a will, he was most likely in a stupor most of his career and couldn’t be bothered with petty real life. I think I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you lost someone close to you to some sort of drug overdose. Otherwise, these are incredibly stupid assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/205 "2016-05-06T10:21:14Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hm. I’ve always thought of Thailand as a free country (that’s what the name means, in fact, IIRC), but maybe not so much. No, “Thailand” does not mean “Land of the Free” or any variation thereof, although this is a common misconception. “Thailand” means “Homeland of the Tai Peoples,” various types of which are spread out across mainland Southeast Asia and southern China but especially concentrated in present-day Thailand. That old “Land of the Free” chestnut simply refuses to die. EDIT: “Tai” above is spelled correctly. I only see the H added for Thais in Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/206 "2016-06-02T16:53:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Prince died from an overdose of painkillers, a source with knowledge of the megastar’s death investigation has told the Star Tribune. > > The 57-year-old musician was pronounced dead the morning of April 21, one day before he was scheduled to meet with a California doctor in an attempt to kick an opioid addiction. > **[Prince died from accidental overdose of fentanyl](https://www.startribune.com/prince-died-from-opioid-overdose/381663221)** > > Medical examiner's report doesn't say whether the potent painkiller had been prescribed. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/207 "2016-06-02T19:01:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > EDIT: “Tai” above is spelled correctly. I only see the H added for Thais in Thailand. Are the two words pronounced the same? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/208 "2016-06-02T20:23:47Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Prince died from accidental overdose of fentanyl](http://www.startribune.com/prince-died-from-opioid-overdose/381663221/) [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/health/prince-death-opioid-overdose/) is saying that the drug in question was Fentanyl. Is Fentanyl another name for Percocet? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/209 "2016-06-02T20:39:42Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/health/prince-death-opioid-overdose/) is saying that the drug in question was Fentanyl. Is Fentanyl another name for Percocet? No Fetanyl is a synthetic opioid that is much stronger than Percocet and morphine. It’s typically given to end-stage cancer patients in a lot of pain. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/210 "2016-06-02T20:55:53Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > No Fetanyl is a synthetic opioid that is much stronger than Percocet and morphine. It’s typically given to end-stage cancer patients in a lot of pain. I’ve also seen it prescribed for people with knee or hip replacements that have pain not adequately controlled by other opiates. Not often, though. And usually that’s right after the surgery, not months or years later. Fentanyl is also being sold on the street as heroin, or heroin is cut with fentanyl. It’s killing a lot of people, and one of the primary motivators for legalizing Narcan kit use by the public, to reverse accidental overdoses. Fuck fentanyl. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/211 "2016-06-02T20:59:10Z")
Here’s the [DEA on Fentanyl](http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/fentanyl.pdf) (note: PDF): > [@](#): > > Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic. > > Fentanyl is abused for its intense euphoric effects. Fentanyl can serve as a direct substitute for heroin in opioid dependent individuals. However, fentanyl is a very dangerous substitute for heroin because it is much more potent than heroin and results in frequent overdoses that can lead to respiratory depression and death. Very serious stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/212 "2016-06-02T22:52:45Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ve also seen it prescribed for people with knee or hip replacements that have pain not adequately controlled by other opiates. Not often, though. And usually that’s right after the surgery, not months or years later. Fentanyl has also been used for general anesthesia (I think that was its original purpose). > [@](#): > > Fentanyl is also being sold on the street as heroin, or heroin is cut with fentanyl. It’s killing a lot of people, and one of the primary motivators for legalizing Narcan kit use by the public, to reverse accidental overdoses. > > Fuck fentanyl. Fentanyl is one of those very potent tools that have a very limited number of uses. Used properly it’s a good tool. Used improperly it can kill you. Outside of a hospital or hospice, use of fentanyl usually (as far as I know) means either obtaining it illegally, or mis-managed chronic pain. The potency means it’s easier to get a lethal dose than many other drugs. The question now is… why was Prince using this? And how did he get it? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/213 "2016-06-02T23:07:25Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > . . . > The question now is… why was Prince using this? And how did he get it? He was dropped off at Paisley Park by an unnamed person the evening before. I wonder if the person was a dealer, and if he or she is a person of interest to the police. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/214 "2016-06-02T23:24:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Outside of a hospital or hospice, use of fentanyl usually (as far as I know) means either obtaining it illegally, or mis-managed chronic pain. Not entirely true. Fentanyl does have the advantage of coming in a patch form means a steadier more consistent release as well as use for patients that for some reason or another cannot take pills. That said, it is being abused more and more recently and is being prescribed much less. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/215 "2016-06-02T23:24:59Z")
Or his chronic pain (which he was known to have) was being mismanaged by an MD. It’s easy to assume illegality in these circumstances but death from legal prescriptions is a growing problem in this country that just isn’t being talked about. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/216 "2016-06-03T01:20:32Z")
Totally random sidepoint: [Fentanyl is likely](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_hostage_crisis_chemical_agent)to have been the gas used by the Russians to end the [Moscow Theatre siege i](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis)n 2002. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/217 "2016-06-03T03:08:28Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Fentanyl has also been used for general anesthesia (I think that was its original purpose). > Fentanyl is one of those very potent tools that have a very limited number of uses. Used properly it’s a good tool. Used improperly it can kill you. > > Outside of a hospital or hospice, use of fentanyl usually (as far as I know) means either obtaining it illegally, or mis-managed chronic pain. The potency means it’s easier to get a lethal dose than many other drugs. > > The question now is… why was Prince using this? And how did he get it? I had a friend that had it prescribed for (IIRC) a dislocated rib (which presents as severe back pain). I think they just gave her a few patches. WAG, he was given them for his hip pain, like Pink (from Pink Floyd fame) “That’ll keep you going through the show”. But that’s just a guess. From what I remember from the investigation, he used one doctor and only his real name, so if the doc wrote him a script for, 30 Vicodins then 30 percocets, then a few days later 30 oxycodons, this may have been the “natural” progression of things. It may have required a prior auth, but a doc telling the insurance company that he tried the other drugs and they didn’t make a dent and even saying or ‘promising’ that he’s going in for surgery soon, may have allowed it go through. This, it could be argued, have made it truly an accident (in one of several circumstances I can think of just off the top of my head), as opposed to ‘look at all the shit I got, I’m getting royally fucked up tonight’. I know they mentioned that he was using a pharmacy that involved driving past several others, but, to my knowledge, they didn’t mention if he’s used the closer ones. It could just be that he likes that one, not that he’s been paying cash and already been to all the others, and it’s not like he drove 45 miles to a Walgreens 3 counties over, it was just down the street. Hell, I drive past one or two just to go to the one I like for a handful of reasons, doesn’t mean I’m trying to trick anyone. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/218 "2016-06-03T07:29:28Z")
Fentanyl comes in limited forms with limited uses. I posit that if Prince had a doctor scripting patches for hip pain (as is the theory as his source of pain), that doc may get looked at really closely by the DEA and state review board. It’s inappropriate for that. No matter how famous or moneyed your patient is, if they need fentanyl to manage their hip pain because they refuse to get a hip replacement, well, too bad. The answer for a patient requesting something stronger for hip pain is simply, “surgery is the strength of pain relief you need.” I wonder if he applied multiple patches, or if he cut them open and ingested the gel. If he was scripted either the lollipop or effervescent tablet, those, again, are entirely inappropriate for his kind of pain control and the prescribing doctor could/should get in a bit of hot water for those. ---
**Author:** ![btcg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@btcg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/btcg)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/219 "2016-06-03T07:47:36Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I think I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you lost someone close to you to some sort of drug overdose. Otherwise, these are incredibly stupid assumptions. Stupid… no, classless, yes. IMO, of cource ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828/220 "2016-06-03T11:12:53Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I had a friend that had it prescribed for (IIRC) a dislocated rib (which presents as severe back pain). I think they just gave her a few patches. > WAG, he was given them for his hip pain, like Pink (from Pink Floyd fame) “That’ll keep you going through the show”. > But that’s just a guess. Understanding that it’s just a guess, if he needed fentanyl to get through his stage show then what he really needed was either corrective surgery or to change his stage show. I mean, yeah, the visual spectacle was an important part of his act but we all get older and his fan base I think would have forgiven him saying “I can’t do X any more because I’ve got bad hips, sorry, but the music is still here”. And if a fan doesn’t understand that screw 'em. > [@](#): > > From what I remember from the investigation, he used one doctor and only his real name, so if the doc wrote him a script for, 30 Vicodins then 30 percocets, then a few days later 30 oxycodons, this may have been the “natural” progression of things. It may have required a prior auth, but a doc telling the insurance company that he tried the other drugs and they didn’t make a dent and even saying or ‘promising’ that he’s going in for surgery soon, may have allowed it go through. > This, it could be argued, have made it truly an accident (in one of several circumstances I can think of just off the top of my head), as opposed to ‘look at all the shit I got, I’m getting royally fucked up tonight’. Granted I’m neither a doctor or a pharmacist, but that kind of progression would require months, if not years, to look plausible, not simply “a few days later 30 oxycontins”. Then again, Prince apparently had years of pain. Really, I’d like to see more discussion in our society about physical dependence as a side effect of medical treatment. Not with a “BAN DRUG X!” attitude but with an eye to better of understanding of how to avoid it, minimize it when it can’t be avoided, and how to manage it when it happens. > [@](#): > > I know they mentioned that he was using a pharmacy that involved driving past several others, but, to my knowledge, they didn’t mention if he’s used the closer ones. It could just be that he likes that one, not that he’s been paying cash and already been to all the others, and it’s not like he drove 45 miles to a Walgreens 3 counties over, it was just down the street. Not all pharmacies deal with all drugs. He may have been going to that particular location because it’s one that deals with certain medications that require either more security or more paperwork. My household doesn’t use the nearest pharmacy, we use the one at the store where I work because it’s more convenient for me to pick scripts up given I’m there anyway five days a week. Before that, we used a location that wasn’t closest because the folks there were nice, offered my disabled spouse seating while waiting (well, everyone was offered seating - this isn’t universal), and did a VERY good job checking for interactions, explaining things, and helping us get help when we didn’t have insurance. Well worth going an extra 10 miles. So some people go “Hey! He didn’t use the closest pharmacy!” like that’s the only criteria that’s important while millions of other people don’t use the closest for all sorts of reasons. > [@](#): > > Hell, I drive past one or two just to go to the one I like for a handful of reasons, doesn’t mean I’m trying to trick anyone. ^ Yep, this. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Fentanyl comes in limited forms with limited uses. I posit that if Prince had a doctor scripting patches for hip pain (as is the theory as his source of pain), that doc may get looked at really closely by the DEA and state review board. It’s inappropriate for that. No matter how famous or moneyed your patient is, if they need fentanyl to manage their hip pain because they refuse to get a hip replacement, well, too bad. The answer for a patient requesting something stronger for hip pain is simply, “surgery is the strength of pain relief you need.” ^ This. Docs know darn well that they can be subjected to scrutiny. While I do think some cases go overboard, it seems entirely appropriate here. > [@](#): > > I wonder if he applied multiple patches, or if he cut them open and ingested the gel. If he was scripted either the lollipop or effervescent tablet, those, again, are entirely inappropriate for his kind of pain control and the prescribing doctor could/should get in a bit of hot water for those. My (admittedly limited) understanding of fentanyl is that you don’t have do screwy stuff to get hurt by it. Not so much multiple patches at once but rather one patch followed too closely by another. In other words, it’s easier to accidentally overdose on it than a lot of other stuff. Although if Prince’s pain was getting worse and worse I could see him getting desperate enough to try more than one patch at once - but if that’s the case the answer isn’t “more fentanyl”, it’s “go see a doctor” or maybe “have the damn surgery”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-dead-at-57/752828.md?page=12)