The full details of Carrie Fisher’s autopsy have revealed what officially caused the death of the iconic Star Wars actress…
On Friday, June 16, 2017, The Los Angeles coroner’s office began to release details from the autopsy of Carrie Fisher, the legendary and iconic Star Wars actress who portrayed Princess/General Leia in several Star Wars films.
At that time, the only confirmed information was that Fisher had passed away due to complications from sleep apnea and other “undetermined factors.” Multiple drugs had been found in Fisher’s system, but the detailed list of those drugs had not been released.
Well, they now have. And, as I write this particular article, it saddens me, knowing what I know, to type these words. So, this is your fair warning: If you wish to remain blissfully ignorant of these details about our Princess, then please do yourself a favor and go no further.
Carrie Fisher with daughter Billie Lourd and co-star Mark Hamill. Adjusted. Original Photo Credit: Vanity Fair. Photographer Annie Leibovitz – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The list of drugs, both prescription and illegal, in Carrie Fisher’s system, at the time of her autopsy, is quite alarming. They include:
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Oxycodone
- Heroin (An exposure to)
- Prozac (Prescription)
- Abilify (Prescription)
- Lamictal (Prescription)
- Alcohol
The L.A. coroner’s report states that while the dosage and time of exposure to heroin could not be nailed down, Fisher had been exposed to the substance at some point. The cocaine, however, had been consumed within 72 hours prior to her death.
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Carrie Fisher also suffered from Sleep Apnea, a condition for which drug abuse makes all the worse. In a statement to People, Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, spoke of her mother’s constant battle with mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse:
"My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases."
While this news deeply saddens me, a life-long fan of Carrie Fisher’s work in Star Wars as one of the Big Three (Fisher, Hamill, and Ford), it in no way damages the love and respect I had for her as not only an actress in Star Wars but as a real person, struggling with real issues and problems.
And, while this news most certainly tarnishes Fisher’s final parting legacy, in the eyes of some, I would hope that the majority would see she lived her life like an open book, and despite her heroic struggle, it was at the end of a long battle, that she succumbed to her demons.
Rest in Peace, Carrie Fisher, and May the Force be with your friends and loved ones.
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction and needs help, please dial the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357, or if you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please do not hesitate to call 1‑800‑273‑8255.
H/T – Variety, Los Angeles Times