Sophia Michaels
This article discusses sensitive themes including addiction and suicide.
Judy Garland, renowned for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” remains a legendary figure even today. However, her immense fame often concealed the struggles she faced in her personal life. Garland battled with depression and substance abuse, which frequently overshadowed her accomplishments. Her tragic death raised eyebrows, given her history of suicide attempts, but it was ultimately attributed to her long-term reliance on sleeping pills.
Her journey with prescription medication began in her childhood. Growing up in a family immersed in vaudeville, Garland was introduced to the pressures of entertainment early on. At just nine years old, her mother, Ethel Gumm, started giving her stimulants to maintain her workloads and sleeping pills to help her rest, as detailed in Gerald Clarke’s biography, “Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland.” The harsh realities of Hollywood compounded these issues.
Garland later revealed that her managers coerced her into taking amphetamines for weight loss, followed by depressants to calm her down. “They’d give us pep pills. Then they’d take us to the studio hospital and knock us cold with sleeping pills … That’s how we worked,” she shared in recordings meant to shed light on the exploitative practices of old Hollywood (via Daily Express). Garland passed away at the young age of 47, but her demise stemmed from years of substance use.
Judy Garland’s accidental death due to barbiturate overdose
On June 22, 1969, Judy Garland was discovered deceased by her fifth husband, Mickey Deans, in their London residence. The subsequent autopsy revealed she had died from an accidental overdose of secobarbital—a potent barbiturate that was commonly prescribed for short-term sleep issues but poses a high risk of addiction. Coroner Gavin Thurston remarked, “This is quite clearly an accidental circumstance for someone who had been using barbiturates for a very long time.” (via The Guardian)
The pathologist noted nearly 5 milligrams of Seconal in Garland’s system, a fatal dose for almost anyone else. Surprisingly, there were no signs of gastric distress, suggesting Garland had become so accustomed to high doses that it was her standard intake, as stated by pathologist Dr. R.E.K. Pocock (via UPI). By then, Garland was completely reliant on the medication, with her London doctor stating, “I don’t think she could have slept without them.”
The autopsy also showed no traces of alcohol, challenging earlier theories that she struggled with liver disease. Dr. Philip Lebon previously claimed she was “living on borrowed time,” but Deans, her husband, rebutted, stating, “My wife drank very little compared to what people think. She often left drinks unattended—about six glasses—but she nibbled more than she drank.”
If you or someone you know is facing addiction or in crisis, please contact the following resources:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- For immediate help, text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
