Heath Ledger's dealth ruled accidental overdose...

[Maddy McCall]

resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.

Just on CNN. :(

Edit to add: Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, 2 anti-anxiety drugs, 2 sleeping drugs.

[movie_girl99]

1. so sad ..my thoughts are with his family. eom

[flvegan]

2. What a shame.

So sad, and such a loss.

[RedStateShame]

3. How many more...

Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, exactly how many people have to keel over before we realize that the drug pushers America should be fighting are named Pfizer, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca et al?

[Midlodemocrat]

8. The only reason my husband is alive is because of pharmaceuticals.

So, we'll have to disagree on that.

[LostinVA]

11. I can't see who you're talking to

I'm not surprised.

[Deep13]

4. At least his family knows it was not a suicide.

Small comfort it may be, but a comfort nonetheless. :-(

[skater314159]

5. As a working chaplain...

... I can tell you it is actually a real relief for the family to learn it was accidental instead of intentional suicide. With suicide, the family and friends left behind have major survivors' guilt - and that can block the whole journey of healing to acceptance.

I do hope that this, along with the other deaths that a poster above listed, might cause us as a society to analyse what the Big Pharm is really pushing, and if the "meds" really make our lives better. I believe that there are many helpful medicines, but there are also some that seem to only make companies richer.

It's a shame Heath had to die in this manner, but hopefully it will serve as a wake-up call to people who are on the same path or are trying to decide if taking more Western Meds is really going to ameliorate their problems or exacerbate them.

[Deep13]

6. Frankly, my life is livable because of "big Pharm."

I was a basket case before using psychiatric medication. Consequently, I am a big, big fan of psychiatry and psychiatric medication.

[skater314159]

13. Those are the ones I include in the necessarry and helpful...

... I have Lupus and Fibro... so there are meds that are good. I agree with you there!

But I hate that Big Pharm keeps drug prices high. A couple of years ago, some psych drugs reached the point where they could be made generic, but Pharm companies tried to stop that. I think that drugs should be affordable for all - not just the wealthy or those with good insurance!

I also hate that they try to keep people from being aware of alternate therapies like herbs, accupuncture, etc.

Like everything, drug companies are a mix of good and bad, but I feel the balance right now is tipped to bad (for the consumer).

[Deep13]

14. I'm not aware of any clinical evidence to suggest that ...

... "alternative therapies" are at all helpful except perhaps as a placebo.

[alarimer]

16. Sounds like he was mixing things that should not have been mixed

People are often unaware of potential drug interactions. It could be that he simply failed to follow the directions, which is what I sort of suspected from the beginning. All those medications are helpful but can also be very dangerous.

[LostinVA]

10. A chaplain and a vet tech?

Wow. You must be busy.

I agree that an accidental death is easier on the family than a suicide.

[skater314159]

12. I'm a vet tech to pay for schooling...

I guess you could say I like realllly like to help creatures (two-legged as well as four-legged) to help them feel better!

[Fran Kubelik]

7. The whole thing is very sad.

Suicide or accidental death, he's still gone, and it's very very sad. :(

[GCP]

9. Take that and stuff it where the sun don't shine, John Gibson

:grr:

[xchrom]

15. here one minute - gone the next -- a lovely man --

a man who loved his children -- a man whose work brought something to many.

may Blessed Peace find and reside with his family.

good night, heath --

[terrya]

17. That's very sad.

What a waste. :-(

[Shine]

18. Oh...how sad.

I can't help but wonder what it must've been like for HIM, as he was on the other side...realizing his body was dead, he'd made a terrible mistake and it was too late. :( Heartbreaking.

Peace and Comfort to his family and loved ones....