Arts & Entertainment

Prince toxicology report shows high level of fentanyl, experts say

By ABC7.com staff
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
A toxicology report from pop icon Prince's autopsy shows the singer had an "exceedingly high" level of the drug fentanyl in his body when he died.
MINNEAPOLIS (KABC) -- A toxicology report from pop icon Prince's autopsy shows the singer had an "exceedingly high" level of the drug fentanyl in his body when he died.

Doctors said the concentration of fentanyl in Prince's liver was more than six times higher than what's typical of a fatal overdose. They also found a potentially lethal amount of the drug in his stomach.
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Prince died after being found unresponsive at his home in Minnesota nearly two years ago. He was 57.

MORE: Monuments light up in purple to honor Prince

Public data released six weeks after his death showed he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin.

A confidential toxicology report obtained by the Associated Press provides some insight into just how much fentanyl was in his system. Experts who are not connected to the Prince investigation said the numbers leave no doubt that fentanyl killed him.
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"The amount in his blood is exceedingly high, even for somebody who is a chronic pain patient on fentanyl patches," said Dr. Lewis Nelson, chairman of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He called the fentanyl concentrations "a pretty clear smoking gun."



The report also says the level of fentanyl in Prince's liver was 450 micrograms per kilogram, and notes that liver concentrations greater than 69 micrograms per kilogram "seem to represent overdose or fatal toxicity cases."

Prince performs on the Isle of Amager in Copenhagen, Denmark in a concert that was interrupted by heavy rain in August 2011.none
Prince and his band were the surprise musical guest during the George Lucas and Mellody Hobson's wedding reception in Chicago in June 2013.none
Prince speaks onstage during the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.none
Prince in concert at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on March 4, 2016.none
Prince, center, smiles as he watches an NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 3, 2016, in Oakland, Calif.none
Prince accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chaka Khan at the BET Awards in June 2010 in Los Angeles.none
Prince is seen before the presentation of Chanel's ready-to-wear fashion collection in Oct. 2009 in Paris.none
Prince performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami in Feb. 2007.none
Prince plays a guitar shaped in the symbol used to represent him in his 2007 Super Bowl halftime performance.none
Prince chats with actress Penelope Cruz in Feb. 2007 in Beverly Hills, Calif.none
Prince, left, performs with Chaka Khan during the 6th annual BET Awards on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, in Los Angeles.none
Prince performs on stage with singer Tamar during ABC's ''Good Morning America'' summer concert series in New York in June 2006.none
Prince arrives with his wife Manuela Testolini for the 77th Academy Awards in Feb. 2005, in Los Angeles.none
Prince performs during the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in Feb. 2004.none
Prince performs in Hong Kong Friday, Oct. 17, 2003.none
Britain's Prince Charles talks with The Artist, formerly known as Prince, left, and his wife Mayte Garcia at the "Diamonds are Forever" celebration in London in June 1999.none
The Artist, formerly known as Prince, speaks at GQ magazine's third annual Men of the Year Awards in New York in Oct.1998.none
The Artist, formerly known as Prince, performs at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany during a tour in Dec. 1998.none
Boxing great Muhammad Ali, right, embraces the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, before the pair announced a benefit concert in 1997.none
Prince is surrounded by dozens of singers performing ''We Are The World'' for the 10th anniversary of the African famine relief anthem at the 1995 American Music Awards.none
The artist formerly known as Prince performs with Mayte and other dancers during the VH1 Fashion & Music Awards show in New York Sunday, Dec. 3, 1995.none
Prince pauses during his show at New York's Madison Square Garden Sunday night, Oct. 3, 1988.none
Prince speaks at the American Music Awards in Jan. 1986 in Los Angeles.none
Rock singer Prince performs at the Orange Bowl during his Purple Rain tour in Miami, Fla., April 7, 1985.none
Prince performs at the 1985 Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Feb. 26, 1985.none
Prince performs during the 27th annual Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in Feb. 1985.none
Rock singer Prince points skyward during his performance at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla., April 7, 1985.none
Prince accepting the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for "Purple Rain" in 1985.none
Prince accepting the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for "Purple Rain" in 1985.none
Prince accepting the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for "Purple Rain" in 1985.none
Rock singer Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., during his opening show, Feb. 18, 1985.none


The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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