Introduction
Fentanyl is an addictive synthetic drug found in some medications. One of the victims of this substance was Prince, a famous musician who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57. Prince was one of the most popular singers of his time, having “150 million record sales, seven Grammy wins, and thirty-three Grammy nominations” (Webber para. 1). Unfortunately, his family life was worse than his career. He was twice divorced, and the only person to advance the investigation into his death was his sister, Tyka Nelson.
Fentanyl Addiction Case
Prince had health problems for a long time and therefore took strong painkillers. In an official report by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office in Anoka County, the singer’s death was due to an overdose of fentanyl (Webber para. 11). However, it is not known precisely how the narcotic substance got to the musician. During the investigation, it was found that Prince’s dealer was his doctor, Dr Schulenberg, who gave the musician a painkiller prescription.
Prince’s sister filed a formal petition to investigate the details of the musician’s death. However, according to the doctor’s lawyer, Dr Schulenberg was “a target in any criminal inquiry, and there have been no allegations made by the government that Dr Schulenberg had any role in Prince’s death” (Coscarelli and Eldred para. 5). Prince’s death was a big shock to his family and fans, especially since no one was punished for it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fentanyl is a heavily addictive drug that can be fatal. To reduce the risks of overdose, specific measures must be taken. One of the most critical methods of combating fentanyl death is to control the prescriptions issued for this drug by doctors and to lower the likelihood of illegal drug distribution. Prince’s case demonstrates that supervising physicians’ activities could significantly reduce people’s chances of accessing fentanyl. In addition, it is necessary to regularly inform the public about the risks and show specific examples of the consequences of drug use.
Works Cited
Coscarelli, Joe and Sheila M. Eldred. “Prince’s Overdose Death Results in No Criminal Charges.” The New York Times, 2018.
Webber, Bo. “How Did Prince Die? The Details behind the Artist’s Drug-Related Death.” Music in Minnesota, 2022.