Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” franchise, died at the age of 60 in December 2016. Her passing happened 4 days after she went into cardiac arrest on a London to Los Angeles flight.
While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed on Monday (19th June) that her death was caused by “sleep apnea and other undetermined factors”, her toxicology report stated that Fisher had heroin, cocaine, and other drugs in her system when she died.
“The exposure to cocaine took place sometime approximately in the last 72 hours of the sample that was obtained,” the report stated.
Furthermore, it explained that the “The Princess Diarist” author had a “remote exposure to MDMA”. In case you didn’t know, MDMA is commonly known as ecstasy. Traces of anti-depressant and antihistamine were also found in her system.
However, it’s unclear if drug use contributed to her death. The report continued, “Based on the available toxicological information, we cannot establish the significance of the multiple substances that were detected in Ms. Fisher’s blood and tissue, with regard to the cause of death.”
In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd addressed the report and opened up about her mother’s struggle with substance abuse and mental illness.
She said, “My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases.”
“She talked about the shame that torments people and their families confronted by these diseases. I know my Mom, she’d want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles. Seek help, fight for government funding for mental health programs. Shame and those social stigmas are the enemies of progress to solutions and ultimately a cure. Love you Momby,” the “Scream Queens” actress continued.
Meanwhile, fans will get to see Fisher on the big screen soon as “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is slated for release on 15th December 2017.
Sources: PEOPLE, E! Online, Variety, LA Times / Featured image: Queerty.
