Police officials announced the heroin found at actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment and in the syringe found inserted in his left arm, tested negative for the deadly additive fentanyl which has been caused numerous deaths among heroin users, the Associated Press reported.
The samples tested by the New York Police Department did not contain a new mix introduced in the past decade: mixing heroin with fentanyl, the synthetic, but extremely potent, morphine which is used to up the high, according to the AP. The deadly mix is linked to 22 deaths in western Pennsylvania.
Investigators have been researching Hoffman's last hour by piecing together surveillance footage, the AP reported. A day before he was found dead in his bathroom, he made a withdrawal of $1,200 at a supermarket near his apartment. His assistant and a friend found him locked in his bathroom around 11:30 a.m. the next day, according to law officials.
A medical examiner spokeswoman said Tuesday there is no official determination on what killed Hoffman, and authorities say the examiner's conclusion on his death will rule whether there will be a criminal investigation, but they suspect it was an overdose, according to the AP.
Syringes, charred spoons, more than 50 small plastic envelopes with heroin were found and taken from Hoffman's apartment, the AP reported. Prescription drugs for blood pressure and muscle relaxants were also found and confiscated.
According to officials, some of the heroin packets were labeled ace of hearts and ace of spades, the AP reported.
Dr. Louis Baxter who specializes in addiction said affluent addicts who have built up high tolerances often consume about 24 small packets, similar to those found at Hoffman's apartment, per day, according to the AP.
"Addicts with financial means will actually stockpile their drug," Baxter told the AP. "Someone who has developed tolerance, who is seeking to develop a high, may need to inject every two hours or so."
Hoffman's funeral will take place Friday and will be orchestrated by Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home, which also arranged the funeral service for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and James Cagney, the AP reported. The funeral home announced the family asked for a private funeral.
