Layne Staley, the lead singer of Alice in Chains, died of a speedball overdose on April 5, 2002.
His body was not discovered until April 19, 2002. Staley’s death was the result of a long struggle with severe drug addiction, which had plagued him for years before his passing at the age of 34.
“I know I’m near death,” Staley said in a heartbreaking interview near the end of his life.
“I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way. I know I have no chance. It’s too late.”
Layne Staley’s overdose in April 2002 was a tragic but not unexpected outcome for those familiar with his struggles. Staley’s battle with addiction was widely known, and his drug use was often reflected in his music.
In a 1996 Rolling Stone article, puncture marks on his hands, indicative of drug use, were publicly documented, further highlighting his ongoing struggles.
In the months leading up to his death, Layne Staley appeared to recognize his need for help but was reportedly skeptical that anyone could offer the assistance he needed.
His struggles with addiction had reached a point where he felt isolated and hopeless, contributing to the tragic outcome of his overdose.
“I know I’m dying,” he told Argentinian writer Adriana Rubio in a 2002 interview. “I’m not doing well.”
Layne Staley compared his drug use to a diabetic’s need for insulin, illustrating the extent to which he felt trapped by his addiction.
He openly discussed with journalist Adriana Rubio how drugs had severely damaged his body, reflecting the depth of his struggle and the impact it had on his health.
“My liver is not functioning and I’m throwing up all the time and sh—ing my pants,” he said. “The pain is more than you can handle. It’s the worst pain in the world. Dope sick hurts the entire body.”
Layne Staley’s death went unnoticed for two weeks due to his reclusive lifestyle. His accountant eventually alerted authorities after no activity was detected in Staley’s bank account.
On April 19, 2002, police discovered Staley’s body in his dark, locked apartment, surrounded by drug paraphernalia and heroin stains.
At 6’1″ and weighing just 86 pounds, he was found with a fully loaded syringe in his hand. Staley, the Alice in Chains frontman, had passed away at the age of 34.
