Justin Townes Earle's official cause of death has finally been confirmed. Following the release of the medical examiner's report, it's been revealed the 38-yet-old songwriter died of an accidental drug overdose.
Earle passed away in August, and at the time, police suspected he died of "probable drug overdose." Now the medical examiner's report has confirmed those fears, with Earle's team breaking the news last night (December 1).
"Three months after we lost Justin, the medical examiner has concluded that the cause of his death was an accidental drug overdose," Earle's team wrote. "Next to alcohol and cocaine the autopsy report revealed traces of fentanyl indicating that that usage of fentanyl laced cocaine resulted in an overdose."
The post continued: "Even though Justin was very outspoken and concerned about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of the 'legal' drugs fed by the pharmaceutical companies, he became the victim of a deadly dose of fentanyl. Illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are causing an enormous rise in overdoses, turning cocaine usage into an even deadlier habit. It only takes a few salt sized granules of fentanyl to cause an overdose. And in most cases, happens so fast that intervention likely could not reverse it."
You can see the post in full below.
As previously reported, his father and old band Steve Earle & the Dukes will release a new album of songs written by the late songwriter called J.T. The record will arrive through New West Records on January 4, which would have been Justin Townes Earle's 39th birthday.
Earle passed away in August, and at the time, police suspected he died of "probable drug overdose." Now the medical examiner's report has confirmed those fears, with Earle's team breaking the news last night (December 1).
"Three months after we lost Justin, the medical examiner has concluded that the cause of his death was an accidental drug overdose," Earle's team wrote. "Next to alcohol and cocaine the autopsy report revealed traces of fentanyl indicating that that usage of fentanyl laced cocaine resulted in an overdose."
The post continued: "Even though Justin was very outspoken and concerned about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of the 'legal' drugs fed by the pharmaceutical companies, he became the victim of a deadly dose of fentanyl. Illicit drugs laced with fentanyl are causing an enormous rise in overdoses, turning cocaine usage into an even deadlier habit. It only takes a few salt sized granules of fentanyl to cause an overdose. And in most cases, happens so fast that intervention likely could not reverse it."
You can see the post in full below.
As previously reported, his father and old band Steve Earle & the Dukes will release a new album of songs written by the late songwriter called J.T. The record will arrive through New West Records on January 4, which would have been Justin Townes Earle's 39th birthday.
