Substance abuse has always been a major player when it comes to rap music and rap culture. There are very few rap artists who have never written and rapped about their struggles with substance abuse, or about the role that chemical substances play in their lives. While many rap artists romanticize drug misuse, some portray drug addiction in a realistic light. Eminem, for example, has openly rapped about his struggles with addiction and his subsequent recovery.
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Did Drug Abuse Cause Lil Peep’s Death?
Not all rap artists can overcome addiction, however – Lil Peep, for example, lost his battle with drug addiction in 2017. The young musician was born in Pennsylvania in 1996, and he was raised in New York, which is where he first began releasing music. He quickly moved from SoundCloud (a free platform) to performing in clubs, and soon he had gained rampant popularity for his unique style of rap-rock.
Like many other people across the country who struggle with addiction, Lil Peep simultaneously struggled with mental illness. He was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder at a young age, his mental illnesses undeniably played into his substance use. Most people know that Lil Peep passed away at a young age, whether or not they are fans. However, not many people know what drugs he overdosed on.
What Drugs Did Lil Peep Overdose On?
Lil Peep was on tour in Arizona when he experienced a fatal drug-related overdose. Before his death, he had posted about drug use on several social media outlets, letting his fans know that he was taking prescription medication (specifically Xanax), cannabis concentrate, and cocaine. He alluded to the fact that he took psilocybin mushrooms as well (magic mushrooms).
His manager found him unresponsive on his tour bus, and even though he called emergency first responders immediately Lil Peep was later pronounced dead at the scene. The toxicology report concluded that the young rap artist had a combination of chemical substances present in his system at the time of death.
The actual cause of death, however (the drugs that lead to his overdose), was a combination of Xanax and fentanyl. Fentanyl is a notoriously deadly synthetic opioid, one that is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl has been solely responsible for the deaths of many well-loved musicians and celebrities. However, combining fentanyl with a benzodiazepine like Xanax is far more dangerous, and more often than not doing so results in overdose or overdose-related death.
What are the Numbers and Statistics About Overdoes in America?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a study conducted in 2019 found that 16 percent of all overdose deaths that involved opioid narcotics also involved benzodiazepines. Every day, an average of 136 Americans over the age of 12 lose their lives to accidental opioid overdose. Rates of opioid abuse are higher among men and women who struggle with underlying mental health conditions – just like Lil Peep.
The good news, however, is that recovery is always possible. If you or someone you love has been struggling with an opioid abuse disorder of any type or severity, you must seek professional help immediately to prevent overdose. Call Recreate Life Counseling today to learn more about how to get started with a program of recovery.
Recreate Life Counseling and Drug Addiction Recovery
At Recreate Life Counseling we offer age and gender-specific treatment options for people of all ages and walks of life who are struggling with drug addiction and who might be at risk of overdose. Our main priority is ensuring that all of our clients leave our treatment program with the tools they need to stay sober long-term. To learn more about our comprehensive drug addiction treatment program, call us at any point in time – we are standing by to help in any way that we can.
Published on: 2021-05-28
Updated on: 2024-07-08
