Tom Petty’s death in October 2017 was attributed to an accidental drug overdose resulting from a mix of medications prescribed for various health issues, including a fractured hip.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner released the autopsy results, indicating that Petty’s cause of death was “multisystem organ failure due to resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrest due to mixed drug toxicity.”
The drugs found in his system included fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetylfentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl.
Fentanyl is often mentioned in the public discussion of the opioid crisis and so too in the Petty family’s statement:
“As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives.
Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.”
Tom Petty’s family revealed that he had been struggling with multiple serious health issues, including emphysema, knee problems, and a fractured hip.
On the day of his death, he had learned that his hip fracture was actually a complete break.
They suggested that the intense pain from this condition likely contributed to the overdose, which resulted from a combination of prescribed medications.
Tom Petty passed away on October 2, 2017, shortly after completing a summer tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.