Drug usage remains one of the world’s most important public health concerns, taking countless lives each year and forcing families and friends to cope with loss and suffering. The music industry, which is typically linked with both enormous creativity and intense stress, has been especially hard struck by the epidemic.
Dealing with celebrity, along with the stress of constant public scrutiny, frequently leads artists down the dangerous path of substance misuse. Here are some outstanding artists from the United States who were sadly killed by a drug overdose.
Rich Homie Quan
Dequantes Devontay. Lamar, also known as Rich Homie Quan, died at 34 from fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine, and promethazine overdose. Lamar was discovered lifeless on his couch by his girlfriend, who contacted 911 after observing he hadn’t moved and showed signs of distress, including foaming at the mouth. He was pronounced dead in an Atlanta hospital. An autopsy conducted revealed an unintentional drug overdose.
Juice Wrld
Jarad Anthony Higgins, also known as Juice Wrld, died at the age of 21 after authorities intercepted his private jet and discovered 70 pounds of marijuana on board. To conceal the drugs, he allegedly consumed many Percocet pills, resulting in a seizure and a possible opiate overdose. When he arrived at a Chicago hospital, he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was ultimately determined to be toxic doses of oxycodone and codeine.
Mac Miller
Malcolm James McCormick, often known as Mac Miller, passed away at the age of 26 due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, and alcohol. In September 2019, three individuals were jailed for providing counterfeit oxycodone tablets laced with fentanyl, which caused his death. The sentences varied from 10 to 17½ years, with one man scheduled to be released in October 2024.
A$AP Yamz
ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob, ASAP being an acronym for “Always Strive and Prosper”) a dynamic member of the prominent A$AP Mob died at age 26. His death was officially classified a combined drug overdose, although other associates speculated that it was due to asphyxiation from vomit caused by sleep apnea.
Speaker Knockerz
Derek McAllister Jr., also known as Speaker Knockerz, was found dead in his South Carolina home. Authorities determined his death a natural heart attack, with no evidence of foul play or narcotics. However, in a 2023 interview, his mother said that the exact cause of death was distorted and did not involve drugs or a heart attack.
Lil Peep
Gustav Elijah Åhr, also known as Lil Peep, was found dead on his tour bus before a concert in Tucson, Arizona. He was 21 years old. His manager noticed him unconscious, and all attempts to revive him failed. An autopsy revealed that his death was caused by an accidental overdose of fentanyl and Xanax, among other medications.
Following his death, Lil Peep’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his management business, claiming negligence and allowing drug usage. The dispute was settled in February 2023, with Lil Peep’s music library being given to his surviving family.
Big Scarr
Alexander Woods, also known as Big Scarr, was shot in the hip and spine, necessitating surgery and leg realignment. According to his family, he died on December 22, 2022, at the age of 22 from an accidental prescription drug overdose at his girlfriend’s home.
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr, often known as Coolio, was found unresponsive at a friend’s house in Los Angeles and pronounced dead at the age of 59. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled that his death was caused by an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, with underlying health conditions such as cardiomyopathy and severe asthma contributing. Coolio was cremated privately, with some of his ashes encased in jewelry for his family and the remainder stored in an urn.
DMX
Earl “DMX” Simmons became addicted to crack cocaine at the age of 14 and went to treatment three times (2002, 2017, and 2019). On February 10, 2016, he was discovered unresponsive and resuscitated with Narcan, which was initially attributed to an asthma attack.
On April 2, 2021, DMX experienced a heart attack at home, most likely as a result of a drug overdose, and was sent to White Plains Hospital. After suffering from lung and brain failure, he was proclaimed dead on April 9, 2021, at the age of 50, with a heart attack as the official cause.
