The Death of Michelle McNamara
One of the biggest killers in the United States today comes from prescription drug overdoses. Many people who are prescribed the medications were done so legally. Different medications help with different symptoms of mental illness, and some are made to help people with chronic pain. The problem with many of these medications is that they can become highly addictive, and some can become a fatal combination. In 2016, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt lost his wife, and he recently opened up about the cause of death.
The Death of Michelle McNamara
Michelle McNamara was a true crime writer who married the comedian and actor Patton Oswalt. Patton is known for his standup comedy, voice acting in movies like Ratatouille and many other television and movie appearances. In 2016, at the age of 46, Michelle McNamara passed away in her sleep, and it was a shock to Patton as well as the rest of the world. This seemingly healthy wife and mother died suddenly, and there were no answers as to the cause of death until recently.
Patton Oswalt recently opened up about the cause of death, and it looks to have been an accidental overdose. Michelle McNamara was on a combination of Adderall, Xanax and Fentanyl. This cocktail of medications can be very lethal as two of them are very powerful depressants. It turns out that these medications were prescribed to Michelle, but it is still unknown if she had a dependency issue.
The Over-Prescribing of Narcotic Medications
The United States prescribes more narcotic medications than any other country on earth. One can’t help but think how these other countries are dealing with issues like mental health and pain management. Other countries seem to be doing fine in each of these categories, but the United States continues to prescribed these highly addictive, highly dangerous medications for different symptoms.
The medications that Michelle McNamara was on are for different types of symptoms. Adderall is prescribed to those who suffer from ADD or ADHD, and it’s a stimulant. The medication helps a person focus, but many people also use this medication in the same way a person would use cocaine. It helps the person stay awake, and it can also reduce the effects of alcohol. Xanax is a very powerful benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety disorders. This medication depresses the nervous system greatly when used in excess, and it can lead to many health issues.
Fentanyl is one of the most potent narcotic pain medications out there, and for some reason it’s being prescribed more and more. Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine, and it’s 50 times more potent than heroin. This medication is supposed to only be prescribed to people with extreme forms of chronic pain. This medication alone can lead to fatal overdoses.
Are You Addicted?
The problem with the disease of addiction is that it’s the only illness that makes you think that you’re doing fine. It takes a moment of clarity or an intervention from your loved ones to really see that you have a problem. If you’ve started to see that you’re losing control of your use of prescription medications, Boca Recovery Center is here to let you know that you don’t have to live that way anymore. Give us a call today to find out about how our addiction treatment program can help you begin a new life.