Michael Jackson
Prescription Drug Addiction
Michael Jackson lived his life in the limelight from almost as
early as he could walk. His tumultuous relationship with his father
has been well documented as has his addiction to drugs and prescription
pain medication.
Currently, his personal physician is on trial in court for crimes
related to Michael Jackson's addiction to pain medication as well
as his practically insatiable appetite for sleep aides, which
ultimately led to his death.
Understanding the life that Michael Jackson led would lead one
to easily surmise that he started using drugs and alcohol early
in life, probably, as seems to be so commonly reported among other
child stars, even well before he reach maturity and the legal
age to drink. However, Michael Jackson's life has been secretive
throughout his childhood and well into his adult life. From most
accounts, he didn't stray into the world of traditional drugs
and alcohol to hide from emotional scars, stress about performances,
or other general reasons.
Pepsi commercial shoot
The first known trigger that one can find for Michael Jackson's
drug use can be traced back to the infamous commercial shoot for
Pepsi in which a pyrotechnic malfunction caused his hair to catch
fire, leading to an extended stay in the hospital. Severe burns
to any part of the body are extremely painful and often require
medication to help subdue the pain. It is at this moment in his
life where it is believed he began his addiction to prescription
medications.
Burns to the scalp are extremely painful and due to the proximity
of the injury to the brain, it requires a careful balance of medication
to alleviate the symptoms. Over time, however, the body builds
up immunity to the pain medication and thus requires more.
In the years afterward
As the years passed, Michael Jackson began to rely on stronger
and stronger medications as his body built up immunity to them.
The pain could have remained throughout these years, or it could
have dissipated, but the brain becomes reliant on the medication
to relax, to soothe itself, and sometimes even to sleep. Demerol
is reported to have become the drug of choice for Michael Jackson
during those years.
Throughout the 1990s, Michael Jackson's life became even more
bizarre and troubling, with allegations and even a trial accusing
him of child molestation. Acquitted of the charges, Michael Jackson
was still guilty in the eyes of a vast majority of the public.
After his sudden death due to illegal ingestion of the powerful
sleep agent, Propofol, stories and reports from his personal assistants
and bodyguards through the years surfaced to highlight a progression
from one drug to the next, more powerful one. Most of these prescription
drugs were aimed at helping the King of Pop sleep, though it is
unclear whether they were taken for other reasons as well, such
as trying to relax.
Michael Jackson's life and death have been kept relatively private
affairs, but if there is one thing to be taken from the story
of his life, it is that, no matter whom the person is, someone
should stand up and let family, friends, and even authorities
know that he or she is suffering from addiction.
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