Whitney Houston's cause of death: Accidental drowning, cocaine use, heart disease

Whitney Houston receives the International Artist Award onstage at the 37th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 22, 2009.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) Whitney Houston's death was caused by accidental drowning, but heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors, according to coroner's officials.

The announcement Thursday ends weeks of speculation about what killed the Grammy-winning singer on Feb. 11, at the age of 48.

How can drowning, cocaine and heart disease all be blamed?
Pictures: Whitney Houston
Complete Coverage: Death of a pop diva

Houston had cocaine in her system when she died, the coroner added. Marijuana, Xanax, Flexeril and Benadryl were also found in her system, but did not contribute to the singer's death. No foul play or trauma is suspected.

Houston was found submerged in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the day before the Grammy Awards.

Several bottles of prescription medications were found in her hotel room, but coroner's officials said they weren't in excessive quantities.

Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says cocaine metabolites were found in Houston's system, and it was listed as a contributing factor in her death. He says the results indicated Houston was a chronic cocaine user.

She was laid to rest in New Jersey on Feb. 19, the day after she was mourned at a star-studded funeral. Her will leaves everything to her 19-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

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Whitney Houston 1963-2012

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
the deaths related to drug use and abusive medicines prescription have become common, is it the destiny of the stars and the wealthy to die like this ?
"au revoir"

[mari1963]

She was a chronic cocaine user? This is a surprise? It shouldn't be. Well, expect maybe to Oprah Winfrey, who is in denial!

But seriously, the coroners report should have said Whitney's death was contributed to Bobby Brown. He is also to blame.

[rmm26a]

Yea, I'm sure it was just an accidental drowning. The cocaine use and various other drugs probably played little part in it. Give me a break, she was just a regular old crack head who happened to be able to sing. Whatever.

[dresia]

I'm just so sorry she's gone. I wish her lifestyle had been different.

[bbarnes5557]

Damn like we didnt already know she was a whacked out druggie who drowned in her own bathtub??? Lets move on.......People need to actually find news that is meaningful rather than continuely concentrate on dribble//////

[smittyc]

Sorry she is gone, she was a wonderful lady who lost her way.

[nanc12]

A tragic loss of a life and a talent. But in the end, her addiction killed her. So, can we now hear about things that actually matter, and for heaven's sake, please stop playing "I will always love you" constantly on the radio!

[gerryrigger]

Flexeril, a muscle relaxant, and Benadryl, which can make one drowsy. Now how could the med examiner conclude that these did not contribute to her death?

[Hutterite]

It was good for her career but this is not how celebrity death is supposed to play out these days. Where's the trial? The shady doctor?

[andie52]

Her ex body guard stated that she was never allowed to take baths or stay in the bathroom for extended periods without being checked on for fear that something like this might happen.Guess her new entourage didn't bother.

[smittyc]

Really sounds like she crashed while she was bathing and passed out and drowned. The worst scenario for a coke user is heat, like a warm bath or hot sun after a snootful. Houston's death is sad, many coke users stroke often after they fall asleep. They then wake up, confused and partially paralyzed on one side or the other often times struggling to get up only to fall when an arm and leg have lost their function forever. Other coke users have seizures so severe they cannot be held down and the only recourse is to protect the head as they thrash around until enough help is their to strap them to a stretcher and get them to an ER. Others just have massive heart attacks, some in their teens and early twenties. Coke use cripples and kills, these outcomes are everyday and everywhere across the country. You would think that the rich and famous, those on the celebrity circuit would be the ones to decry it's use not glamourize it. I find it ironic that the health care professionals are instead mocked and ridiculed when they attempt to bring negative attention to coke use.