Whoa, Billy Mays!
Looks like his sudden and tragic death at the age of 50 was not just "one of those things that could happen to anybody."
Toxicology reports on Mays revealed the following drugs....
Hydrocodone (Vicodin),
Oxycodone (painkiller)
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Nordiazepam (Valium)
Temazepam (anti-anxiety)
alcohol....
and Benzoylecgonine (a byproduct of cocaine).
Which puts Mays into the pantheon of Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson in terms of being a walking pharmacy.
Not that we are a nation that is on a runaway train of anti-depressant use and plastic surgery. Naaaahhhh....
There was this nugget I read recently which stuck in my head...
The number of Americans taking antidepressants doubled to 10.1 percent of the population in 2005 compared with 1996, increasing across income and age groups, a study found. An estimated 27 million Americans ages 6 and older were taking the drugs by 2005, while their use of psychotherapy declined, according to Columbia University researchers. The findings highlight the need for doctors who are not psychiatrists and prescribe the medicines to be trained to diagnose and manage depression so patients get the most effective treatment, said the study’s lead author.
Now, let me be clear. I know plenty about this subject from first hand experience. While I am not on any mood altering drugs, I know several extended family members who are. And trust me, they are LIVE SAVING, quality enhancing miracles.
You can't just say "take a brisk walk and think happy thoughts."
That said, the increasingly easy recreational use of these drugs does seem to be picking up tempo. And if you are rich, famous or both, you can certainly "afford" to start poppin' the pills like tic-tacs.
Until you drop dead, that is.
most people who consume vicodin, oxycoton, and xanax do so recreationally. Maybe some of your family members have benefited from doctors pushing numerous medications but many other families have been destroyed by there easily addictive nature and easy accessibility. Billy Mays had a bad heart and didn't think enough of his family to not do coke and pop pills so he's dead. Same with Jacko.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Billy Mays during the Wisconsin vs. Florida State bowl game last year and thinking "This guy is a total jag". Upon further reflection I think he was completely high.
ReplyDeleterod, what was he doing?
ReplyDeleteAs best as I remember he was a FSU graduate and ESPN interviewed him during the game. Unlike a normal pitchman who does things across the nation and doesn't want to offend anyone he was over the top on how great this mediocre Florida State team was and how Wisconsin had no chance (which they didn't) I remember thinking he is drunk at the time due to the lack of self control and was as happy as could be, but he didn't slur his words that I remember so I think he was high. If someone recorded the game and kept it for some reason it would be interesting to see it again.
ReplyDelete