Potent Painkiller Demerol May Have a Role in Jackson’s Death, Investigators Say

Authorities looking into the sudden and shocking death of pop star Michael Jackson say the powerful prescription painkiller Demerol and other dangerous drugs the singer reportedly was taking may have played a part.

Jackson, 50, reportedly suffered cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009 while at his Los Angeles home. Paramedics called to the home and doctors at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center where Jackson was rushed by ambulance were unable to resuscitate the singer.

While several theories about why Jackson died are circulating on the Internet and elsewhere, officials reportedly are looking into the use of Demerol and other prescription drugs as possible causes.

Demerol is a powerful, synthetic narcotic drug similar to both morphine and the street drug heroin. It is most often used to treat moderate to severe pain during or following surgery and pregnancy. The effects of Demerol are most often felt within 15 minutes and continue for two to four hours.

Demerol abuse is not common, in part because the drug is difficult to obtain outside of a hospital. However, Jackson is said to have been taking the drug, apparently under a doctor’s supervision, for chronic pain.

A Jackson-family associate has been quoted in media reports as saying Jackson received a shot of Demerol just hours before his death and that an overdose of the drug may have caused his death.

Physician’s Car Impounded by Police

In a possibly related development, Los Angeles police said they have towed the BMW vehicle reportedly belonging to Jackson’s personal physician from in front of the singer’s house as part of the ongoing investigation into his death. Authorities said they plan to interview the physician, but noted that the unidentified physician is not currently under criminal investigation or suspected of wrongdoing in treating Jackson.

“His car was impounded because it may contain medications or other evidence that may assist the coroner in determining the cause of death,” said LAPD spokeswoman Karen Rayner.

Autopsy Underway Today

An autopsy on Jackson’s body is underway now and some findings from the examination may be released later today. However, the results of blood tests to determine whether Demerol and other drugs were in the singer’s system at the time of his death likely will take weeks to complete. So, an answer on Demerol’s possible role in the death likely won’t be known until then.

Abuse of prescription drugs is an epidemic in America and results in thousands of deaths and emergency-room visits each year. Now, it appears the use of a powerful narcotic may have been responsible for the death of one of the world’s biggest stars.

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