Report: Pill Poppin' Killed Rockin' DJ AM
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Authorities will need to conduct toxicology tests, expected to take weeks, to determine what exactly killed celebrity disc jockey DJ AM, a medical examiner's office spokeswoman said Saturday.
But according to the New York Daily News, a report claims that DJ AM swallowed a fatal handful of the powerful painkiller OxyContin, with authorities discovering eight undigested pills in his stomach and one in his mouth.
A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that police found a crack pipe and prescription pills in the apartment where they discovered DJ AM's body Friday evening. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
DJ AM, who's real name was Adam Goldstein, had openly discussed past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs. In October, MTV was to debut his reality show, "Gone Too Far," in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers. MTV hasn't said whether Goldstein's show will air.
In an interview with the AP last month, he said the show provided a "terrifying" reminder of his own addiction.
"I have to constantly remind myself why I'm here and remember what it was like," he said.
Addiction specialist and VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" host Dr. Drew Pinsky said Saturday that pain medications likely led DJ AM away from his sober path.
"It very slowly and subtly reawakens addiction," Pinsky said of pain medication in an interview Saturday. "I'm not saying it was inappropriately prescribed, I'm saying he didn't know the risks."
Goldstein rose to fame several years ago as a deejay known for his mashups — blends of at least two songs. He performed in clubs, on concert stages and at exclusive Hollywood parties. His personal life also garnered attention, as he dated actress-singer Mandy Moore and reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie.
Goldstein was critically hurt in a plane crash last September in Columbia, South Carolina, that killed four people. He was flying in a Learjet after a performance with Travis Barker, a drummer for the pop-punk band Blink-182 and Goldstein's partner in the duo TRVSDJ-AM.
Barker and Goldstein were burned. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery but resumed performing about a month later.
Moore, who rushed to Goldstein's side last year after he was injured in a plane crash, said in a statement the "I am absolutely heartbroken. For those of us lucky enough to have known him, Adam radiated a contagious exuberance for life and also personified the very definition of a true friend. To say that he will be missed beyond words is an understatement. My heart goes out to his loved ones."
Also Saturday, Barker expressed his sadness about his former collaborator on Twitter. The two had performed as the duo TRVSDJ-AM.
"Don't know how i am gonna play 2night but i am for AM," wrote the Blink-182 member, who is on tour with the group. "My brother is gone. i love u and miss u, i'll never forget all the good times we had."
Goldstein had told the AP he felt blessed to have survived the aircraft crash but was still shaken.
"I guess I get why they call it 'post-trauma,' because it was very tough. I have really bad days, and I have really OK days," he said.
His body was found after a friend called police to say he was unable to get into the home in New York City's trendy SoHo neighborhood.
Paramedics had to break down the door before they found him, shirtless and wearing sweatpants, in his bed around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, the law enforcement official said.
There was no evidence of foul play.
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August 31, 2009 - Report: Police Found Crack Under DJ AM's Body