Star Tribune has reported that the painkiller Percocet was found present in the body of musician Prince when he was found dead in his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis on April 21.
It remains unclear, however, whether or not the drug caused or contributed to the death of the singer, according to the report's source who is familiar with the investigations.
The revelation came on the same day the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the U.S. attorney's office have joined Carver County investigators looking into the death of the musician, who was asking for emergency help for opioid addiction during the week of his demise.
With the autopsy and toxicology tests results still pending, the cause of the singer's death is still undetermined. However, while those tests have not yet been completed, Star Tribune's source said they showed that Percocet was present in the system of the singer.
What Is Percocet?
Percocet is a painkiller that belongs to the family of opioid drugs. It is a brand name of the drug that combines oxycodone and acetaminophen. Opioids, such as Percocet, latch on to the brain's opioid receptor, which can numb pain and produce a sense of euphoria. The drug, however, can also slow breathing. Abuse of the drug can lead to dependence and addiction.
Opioid Addiction
Although the real cause of the singer's death has not yet been revealed, there are clues that hint of a problem with substance abuse. A law enforcement source told Reuters that when the musician was found dead, prescription opioid medication was discovered at the scene.
A doctor from California has also been called to help Prince and was supposed to meet him the day after he died.
Howard Kornfeld of Recovery Without Walls in California was supposed to fly to Minnesota on April 22. His son, Andrew Kornfeld, who serves as a clinic staff member, also travelled to Minnesota the day before to have an initial discussion with Prince, but the singer was not available when he arrived at Paisley Park.
A staff then found the musician unconscious in the elevator prompting Kornfeld to call 911. Prince died 19 minutes after emergency responders arrived.
