Philip Seymour Hoffman, the academy award winner, died due to cocktail of drugs including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine, autopsy results revealed Friday.
Ruling the death as an accident, the New York medical examiner stated that the 46-year-old died of acute mixed drug intoxication that is known as 'speedball.'
But, Dr Charles McKay, a medical toxicologist for Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and a spokesman for the American College of Medical Toxicology said that the medical examiner did not give the amounts od drugs found in Hoffman's body. This made it difficult to understand which drug took his life. "There's a difference between a stimulant death, which would be cocaine and the amphetamines, and a narcotic death, like heroin," he told the Associated Press.
Amphetamines and benzodiazepines can cause heart rhythm problems, a stroke or heart attack, whereas heroin, if taken with sedatives can slow down depress. Anyway, Dr McKay said, the combination of drugs "suggests someone who has been using drugs repetitively."
Hoffman was found dead on the bathroom floor of his West Village apartment on Feb. 2 by his friend after he did not come to pick up his children.
It was suspected he died of drug overdose. Authorities also found a needle stuck in his arm and several small packets that contained heroin, at least five packets were found empty in the trash bin, reports The New York Times.
Hoffman, who developed drug addiction in college days, managed to quit the habit. However, after 23 years, he began taking heroin and prescription drugs since 2012, reports the Mirror.
