Accidental pill overdose killed Ledger

AP PhotoLedger, last November, looking a bit more haggard than his usual handsome self.

It’s looking like beloved actor Heath Ledger wasn’t so much suicidal as overworked and stressed out. Normal doses of several prescription drugs were found in his system including painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs. That means OxyContin, Valium, Xanax, Hydrocodone, Restoril and Unisom.

And while I seldom have too much sympathy for the rich and famous, even less for pill-popping richies, but with 2 films in the works and Heath’s inability to shut off his brain and actually get some sleep I understand.

I haven’t yet read why Ledger was taking painkillers but I do understand the desperation that comes when you add sleeplessness to pain, stress, and severe anxiety. (Oh would that I didn’t…) It seems obvious, to sane people, that taking this many different drugs, even over the counter varieties, could be dangerous. But lack of sleep can actually induce insanity and cause poor decision making. You’d do anything to shut your brain off and rest again. Unfortunately for Heath, the combination was lethal and he won’t be waking up.