Sophia Michaels
The following includes references to addiction.
The world still mourns the loss of Carrie Fisher, known worldwide for her role as Princess Leia in “Star Wars.” She passed away in December 2016 at the age of 60, leaving a significant impact on pop culture. While initial reports attributed her death to a heart attack, the truth was much more intricate and sorrowful.
Six months later, the full extent of her struggles became apparent. Toxicology reports indicated the presence of various substances in her system at the time of her passing, contradicting Todd’s previous claims. This news was heartbreaking yet not entirely unexpected, given Fisher’s own candidness about her issues with addiction and mental health.
A range of substances detected in Carrie Fisher’s toxicology report
Carrie Fisher’s autopsy and toxicology report, published in June 2017, revealed a grim account of her last days. The coroner’s findings detected substances including heroin, cocaine, morphine, and MDMA (ecstasy), along with several prescription medications such as Prozac, Abilify, and Lamictal, and also unprescribed oxycodone. The report stated, “Based on the available toxicological information, we cannot establish the significance of the multiple substances that were detected in Ms. Fisher’s blood and tissue regarding the cause of death,” emphasizing the uncertainty around how these substances impacted her demise.
Fisher’s family chose to confront the revelations openly. Her daughter, Billie Lourd, highlighted her mother’s long-standing battles with addiction and bipolar disorder. Billie stated, “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.” She emphasized that her mother would want her death to inspire discussions about these ongoing struggles.
Fisher herself was always candid about her difficulties, previously sharing, “The only lesson for me, or anybody, is that you have to get help. It’s not a neat illness. It doesn’t go away,” in a 2013 interview. She continued, stating she wasn’t embarrassed about her journey.
If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction, help is available. Please visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
