Drug Combo Blamed In Smith's Death

(CBS/AP)  Officials in the Bahamas say they're still investigating the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son. And they say the findings by Smith's private pathologist won't influence them.

The chief magistrate says they're still waiting for their own toxicology findings. Those will determine if a jury inquest is necessary.

According to well-known American pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, the 20-year-old died from the "accidental" effect of methadone and two antidepressant drugs interacting in his system.

The low levels of the three drugs detected by toxicology tests indicated Daniel Smith died "a tragic, accidental, drug-related death," Wecht, who conducted a private autopsy, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

But Bahamian officials says Wecht's results aren't "the official results," so they'll wait for their own.

In the meantime, Smith's body remains at a funeral home in the Bahamas.

He died Sept. 10 at his mother's hospital bedside in the Bahamas, where the reality TV star and former Playboy playmate was recuperating from giving birth to a daughter three days earlier.

Wecht said Zoloft, Lexapro and methadone had a lethal "cumulative effect on the central nervous system" that ultimately stopped Smith's heart — a "classical" death resulting from a combination of drugs without an overdose of any one.

"Oh my, that's a really lethal combination right there," said Lisa Johnson, a pharmacist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "If that's what he was on, it could very well have caused this."

"The methadone will slow you down, but the other ones make your system speed up, so it's an odd combination," she said in an interview.

Smith had reportedly been suffering depression related to a breakup with a girlfriend when he went to visit his mother and newborn half-sister in Nassau. Zoloft and Lexapro, which a U.S. doctor had prescribed, are antidepressants commonly used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

But Wecht said he did not know why Smith was taking methadone, a pain-reliever that is also used to ease heroin cravings for recovering addicts.

"It is used for people who have been on heroin or morphine," Wecht said from his home in the Pittsburgh area. "I have made those inquiries. I can only say to you no one has suggested anything having to do with drug addiction in this boy."

A lawyer for Anna Nicole Smith said she hired Wecht, a forensic pathologist who gained fame as a consultant on celebrity cases including Elvis Presley's death, to end speculation about her son's death.

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[vipaka]

Amen, gmond! Help somebody to find themself. Love and heart gifts never fail. When you help others, you help yourself.

[gmond]

Methadone can be lethal to those unused to it, maybe the poor kid was trying to find another way to self-medicate, since he obviously wasn't getting any real help from his therapist.

What I find really appalling in all this is the typical pill-therapy most so-called psychiatrists are using. Instead of treating the patient, just medicate him.

I can imagine the psychiatric decision: "Just take this pill and you'll feel better, and I'll feel better since I won't have to listen to you whine at me or have to put any thought into your situation."

This kid was depressed over a girlfriend, he didn't need pills, he needed support and therapy, guidance and analysis. Everything you are expecting when you pay a psychiatrist for treatment.

[jdeltoro1]

I hope Anna Nicole is doing well with her new daughter. May God give her strength during this time of sorrow, as well as to all mothers who have gone through a smilar experience.

[artashajiee]

Anna,I'm so sorry.Your son was looked like an Angel.You know that.Right now he is so close to god.I'm writting you from overseas and muslim country and it would be a little odd for you.But good girl be strong like always,like before,like past cloudy days.take care,stay healthy just for your little sweet baby girl.

[glnnglnn-2009]

I feel for Anna Nicole. She did a fine job raising Daniel and he clearly loved his Mother deeply.
Your daughter needs you now Anna Nicole. God Bless all three of you.

[zanna5]

Could you re-air your two part series on Methadone? Ms Smith did the report.

A NOPE Mom

[flolake]

Did this young man have a prescription for Methadone? If so, it was likely an unintentional overdose and a lawsuit will surely follow. If he did not have a script for Methadone, every effort should be made to find its source for proscecution.

[karmah1]

the drugs listed have been safely used to treat depression anxiety and other simular disorders methadone is now being used for other reasons than drug adiction of course there is always a possibility of interactions and amts of drug taken can be a factor during a sad time like this there is no reason for crual remarks!

[vvalen26]

Some of the comments below are pretty heartless! Nobody is a perfect mother...I'm sure some of you haven't been a good influence at one point in your life! This is a mother, a human being, who has just lost her son. You guys need to stop being so ignorant! She isn't that bad...her life represents someone who had dreams, someone who wanted a better life for her son! Atleast she didn't become a prostitute or something. She has been a successful model and a hardworking single mother! Don't hate on her because some of you wish you were rich or a celebrity like her! Nobody lives a life of perfection, we are all sinners...so don't judge her, let God be the judge!!

[danimal50]

It makes no difference if you are rich or poor, black or white, smart or dumb, old or young, pleasant or otherwise --- to lose a child has to be the worst experience a human being can ever have.
Certainly there are some awfully hard hearts out there to be pointing fingers and throwing stones when a mother --- any mother --- has lost her only boy.
He's dead. Have you no feelings at all?
tsk, tsk, tsk --- shame on you.