Prince Died of Opioid Overdose: Report

Superstar Prince died of an opioid overdose, a law enforcement official, who spoke under anonymity, said on June 2.
Prince Died of Opioid Overdose: Report
Recording artist Prince speaks during a news conference about his recording agreement between himself and Universal Records and his new single "Te Amo Corazon," Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
6/2/2016
Updated:
6/2/2016

Superstar Prince died of an opioid overdose, a law enforcement official, who spoke under anonymity, said on June 2, according to The Associated Press.

The singer was found dead at his Minneapolis home on April 21. Prince was last seen the night before at around 8 p.m. when he was dropped off at his home by an acquaintance.

Authorities responded to a 911 call at his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis, and found him unresponsive in an elevator. The local sheriff says first-responders performed CPR, but failed to revive the pop superstar. 

Officials said the antidote to narcotic drug overdoses, Narcan, was not dispensed.

Authorities had found prescription opioid medication on him and at his Minnesota residence, said an official. The drugs are usually used to treat pain.

Authorities are investigating whether Prince, 57, died of an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks prior to his death. 

Investigators also believe a previous health concern, which forced his plane to make an emergency landing in Illinois a week before his death, might have been a result of a reaction to the pain medication, said an official to CNN.

The pilot told air traffic control that a passenger, later known to be Prince, was unresponsive. He was taken to a hospital and was treated for a potential overdose of pain medication, the official said.

After the incident Prince’s publicist said the singer had returned home and was doing well.

An autopsy for Prince was conducted on April 22.

Martha Weaver, spokesperson for Midwest Medical Examiner’s office, said at the time that “results from the autopsy may take several weeks—which is not unusual.”

She said the office is examining Prince’s medical history, social history, and his family’s medical history. Weaver also said numerous tests were conducted during the autopsy, including toxicology samples. 

She said in April that officials did not plan to release any preliminary information until autopsy results were complete.

After the autopsy was concluded, Prince’s body was released to his family.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.