Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Prince’s Death: Investigation Into Overdose Reveals Powerful Painkiller Fentanyl In mislabeled Pill Bottle

A mislabeled bottle of pills found in the home of the late singer Prince contained the powerful painkiller fentanyl, US media has reported. According to sources close to the investigation the pills were found in a bottle of Aleve, an over-the-counter medication in the US which contains the painkiller naproxen. Drugs found at Prince's home An investigation reportedly reveals that mislabeled pills found at Prince's estate contained the highly addictive opioid fentanyl, which is said to be far more powerful than heroin. But the pills themselves were marked "Watson 385", an indicator used by drug manufacturers to identify pills which contain an acetaminophen and hydrocodone mix. Tests on the pills showed they also contained fentanyl, however, which seems to suggest the drugs were counterfeit. US media said investigators were still trying to clarify whether the pill markings were the result of a mislabelling error or that the pills were manufactured illegally. The source said around two dozen pills were found inside the bottle. The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the investigators are proceeding on the assumption that Prince was unaware the pills contained the more powerful painkiller fentanyl. Fentanyl is described as being 100 times more potent than morphine; it is usually prescribed by a doctor for critically ill patients or as part of a surgical anaesthetic. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is often sold on the street as an alternative to heroin. The US Drug Enforcement Administration last month published a report warning that illegally manufactured versions of the drug were turning up more frequently in drug seizures. Prince died of opioid overdose: Medical examiner Music icon Prince died of an accidental overdose of painkillers, according to medical examiners who've just released their findings into the cause of his death. An autopsy performed in June revealed Prince had died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is a controlled substance commonly sold illegally and misused by addicts. Whether fentanyl had been prescribed to Prince is still unclear; US media are reporting that investigators have not yet found a prescription for the drug in Prince's home. In 2014, there were nearly 19,000 deaths connected to overdoses of opioid painkillers. The 57-year-old singer died in April.

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