Drug-related celebrity deaths: A cross-sectional study
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RESEARCH
Open Access
Drug-related celebrity deaths: A cross-sectional study Johannes M. Just*, Markus Bleckwenn, Rieke Schnakenberg, Philipp Skatulla and Klaus Weckbecker
Abstract Background: Celebrities are at risk for premature mortality as well as drug-related death. Despite being a vulnerable patient group, celebrities influence people’s health behaviours through biological, psychological and social processes. Therefore, celebrity endorsement of the topic could be one way to challenge the current “opioid endemic”. Our aim was to better understand the factors surrounding drug-related celebrity deaths by investigating the incidence as well as substances used between 1970 and 2015 using a cross-sectional study design. Method: We searched public databases for drug-related celebrity deaths between 1970 and 2015. They were categorized for sex, profession, age at death, year of death and substances involved. The main outcome measures are descriptive values including number of drug deaths per year and substances involved. Secondary outcome measures are analytical questions to examine whether and which factors influence age at death and year of death (e.g. type of substance use disorder). Results: We identified 220 celebrities who died a drug-related death with a clear indication of involved substances between 1970 and 2015. The average age at death was 38.6 years; 75% were male. Most celebrities died between the age of 25 and 40. The number of drug-related deaths increased in the 21st century, with a significant increase in the use of prescription opioids. Deaths involving prescription opioids and heroin were associated with a significantly lower mean age at death compared to deaths where these substances were not involved. Conclusions: Compared to the 20th century, the total number of celebrities who died from a drug-related death in the 21st century increased, possibly due to an increased involvement of prescription opioids. Negative effects on individual health decisions of celebrity’s followers could be the result. Keywords: Addiction, Celebrity, Opioids
Background Celebrities are at risk for premature mortality as well as drug-related death [1]. Drug-related deaths occur regularly and attract significant media coverage [2]. It was shown, that rock/pop star mortality increases relative to the general population with time since fame [3]. In professional musical performance artists, performance-related musculoskeletal pain is a common disorder and is associated with depression and music performance anxiety [4]. Actors also show an increased prevalence of musculoskeletal pain [5]. In professional athletes substance use rates are higher than in non-athletes [6]. * Correspondence: [email protected] Bonn University Clinic, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Sigmund-Freud-Street 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
Reasons for starting “drugs of abuse” involve the performance enhancer model (enhance strength and endurance, fight pain, reduce weight) and the abuse and addiction model (reduce stress, boost conf
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