So true.

1contessa said:

benni said:

And Prince did think about death, "We all gotta die some day" and other various lyrics. Also, recently, when asked about the vault, he stated, "One day, someone will release them. I don't know that I'll get to release them." To me, that implied that he didn't know who would get to release them, who would be in charge of his estate after he passed, so that his not leaving a will was done purposefully and with forethought. He knew that when he passed he would not be concerned about his legacy, about what occured after his passing, so there would be no sense in worrying about what might happen to it during that time. We all know his stance on contracts and a will could be seen as a sort of contract. His not leaving a will has not surprised me in the least.

I don't think that any of us can say what Prince would or wouldn't do, because none of us knows, just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs, let alone die because of them. We can't say that he wouldn't have just not written a will or whatever, because honestly, none of us knew the man (his death is proof of that) and can't say what he would or wouldn't do.

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

benni said:

Mumio said:

1contessa said:

I don't think that any of us can say what Prince would or wouldn't do, because none of us knows, just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs, let alone die because of them. We can't say that he wouldn't have just not written a will or whatever, because honestly, none of us knew the man (his death is proof of that) and can't say what he would or wouldn't do.

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

1contessa said:

Mumio said:

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

I agree with that, it seems that this entire website has become one big spectuation destination. I have been saying something similiar for weeks now. I hope prince.org does not become a place where all we discuss his is death. I put it this way, the pain issue is speculation, was he an addict, I don't know. He died of a drug overdose is the only fact thats out there. None of us know any other details.

^^Thank you wayhome, I'm glad you get what I'm trying to say.

wayhome said:

1contessa said:

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

I agree with that, it seems that this entire website has become one big spectuation destination. I have been saying something similiar for weeks now. I hope prince.org does not become a place where all we discuss his is death. I put it this way, the pain issue is speculation, was he an addict, I don't know. He died of a drug overdose is the only fact thats out there. None of us know any other details.

Maybe you are new but the way Prince was treated here when he was alive is worse. There are people here who routinely made a career out of calling Prince all manner of filthy names and spewing profanity toward him while he was still alive and could read what was being said.

He didn't release any vault material or remasters, so he was a c*nt and a selfish prick. If he performed the wrong setlist or they didn't like his recent material he was a washed up has been. He was ridiculed for choosing his own spiritual path, granting interviews to Ebony magazine, dating the wrong type of woman, you name it.

I'm not talking about ordinary criticism or complaints. Some of the very people complaining about all the speculation since he passed used to drag the man relentlessly while he was alive. I really wish more people had spoken up back when he was with us.

1contessa said:

Mumio said:

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

During the Atlanta show he commented that he had been feeling under the weather. Life long friends have commented upon the pain he lived with for many years. Our proof is that he was last photographed at a Walgreens, picking up prescriptions. That says, "medicine" to me. Where is your proof that he was "using drugs"?

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

1contessa said:

Mumio said:

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain".....proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it.....no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

During the Atlanta show he commented that he had been feeling under the weather. Life long friends have commented upon the pain he lived with for many years. Our proof is that he was last photographed at a Walgreens, picking up prescriptions. That says, "medicine" to me. Where is your proof that he was "using drugs"?

benni said:

1contessa said:

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

During the Atlanta show he commented that he had been feeling under the weather. Life long friends have commented upon the pain he lived with for many years. Our proof is that he was last photographed at a Walgreens, picking up prescriptions. That says, "medicine" to me. Where is your proof that he was "using drugs"?

Did the report say that he died of an accidental "medicine" overdose? Come on, I know that many of us loved the man, but let's not pretend that he wasn't human and could do no wrong.

derrick31 said:

benni said:

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

During the Atlanta show he commented that he had been feeling under the weather. Life long friends have commented upon the pain he lived with for many years. Our proof is that he was last photographed at a Walgreens, picking up prescriptions. That says, "medicine" to me. Where is your proof that he was "using drugs"?

[/quote Medication is a drug. If you abuse legal drugs, it will effect you in the same way as illegal drugs do.

True, medications are drugs, and people do abuse medications. However, her point was that we have no proof that he was in pain. All pharmacies monitor prescription medications and look for over-prescribed drugs that can be a sign of abuse, and will actually refuse to refill certain types of medications (usually opiates) if it is not time for that medication to be refilled. I cannot imagine Prince getting a prescribed medication for any other reason than what has been stated by his friends and associates, to deal with chronic pain. She also stated that we would have defended Prince saying that he would never touch a drug of any kind, however, I can imagine him using prescribed medication, and would never have suggested that he wouldn't use medication prescribed to him by a doctor. I work with elderly and disabled people, I live with chronic pain myself, and know the number of prescriptions that are often prescribed for people, especially as they age.

farnorth said:

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

Yep was wondering if anyone else had posted a link to that article yet, great read.

1contessa said:

benni said:

During the Atlanta show he commented that he had been feeling under the weather. Life long friends have commented upon the pain he lived with for many years. Our proof is that he was last photographed at a Walgreens, picking up prescriptions. That says, "medicine" to me. Where is your proof that he was "using drugs"?

Did the report say that he died of an accidental "medicine" overdose? Come on, I know that many of us loved the man, but let's not pretend that he wasn't human and could do no wrong.

The report said he died of an accidental Fentanyl toxicity, which is a medication that is generally prescribed by a doctor to patients dealing with chronic pain or have developed a tolerance to other pain medications or to cancer patients. It did not say he died of an accidental drug overdose. Also, another thing to keep in mind, the implication you seem to be making is that he was "addicted", but many here have talked about their own use of opoids to deal with chronic pain and have talked about the difference between dependency and addiction. And there is a difference. Even someone who is dependent upon opoids to deal with their chronic pain can develop a tolerance for those medications.

[Edited 6/5/16 20:08pm]

farnorth said:

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

Thank you. Ms. Herman draws a connection between our society's stigmatization of addiction to painkillers with an explanation for Prince's furtive actions. She calls for more compassion and understanding to counteract the shame and fear that motivate our cultural belief systems and behaviors.

1contessa said:

Mumio said:

Well....the way you've phrased it, "just like many of us thought that Prince would never do drugs", tells me that you view this very differently than I do. Prince didn't "do" drugs. Prince used medication to deal with years of chronic pain and like so many others who do/have done the same, developed a dependence due to the nature of the meds. That's a completely different scenario than recreational use or "doing" drugs. Since you haven't addressed who you were speaking to here but did quote me, I felt the need to address your comments.

And with the way that you phrased it "that he used medication to deal with years of chronic pain"......proves my point, because how do you know this for a fact? The truth is, you don't, none of us do, because none of us were ever around Prince to know anything about his life, or whether he was in pain or not. Did any of us ever witness his pain or did he confide in us about it........no! Prince was seen riding a bicycle a day before he died, and not once do I recall him telling an audience that came to see him perform, that he was suffering or in pain...that's my point. We are all going by what we have heard, and none of us have any proof whatsoever. We don't know the reasons for his drug use, heck, like I said, many of us would have placed our necks on a chopping block in his defense, saying that he would never even touch a drug of any kind I'm sure, only to lose our heads in the process. It's all speculation.

[Edited 6/5/16 17:04pm]

Just want to jump in to say I agree with you 1contessa... we don't know. I have been thinking about this a lot since the cause of death was released. No one has *officially* confirmed 'yes Prince suffered chronic pain for years and he was taking Fentanyl that was prescribed to him'. It has also been discussed on legit medical sites that Fentanyl is most commonly prescribed for patients with cancer - hence the speculation that he may have had cancer. And it is also abused as a street drug. No one has said definitively in what context Prince obtained it or was using it as far as I have read - I guess this is all still subject to a police investigation which is why no one is talking about it. As someone earlier in this thread (or the other thread) said 'we know the how but not the why'. I guess until the police investigation is complete, no one is likely to talk.

Irrespective of the 'why', for a person who wrote prolifically and quite openly, as far as I know he never wrote anything that would imply he was in pain or addicted or ill in his songs. His friends all rubbished the idea that he was 'using drugs' and there's been many testify to his clean living. He wore his heart on his sleeve in some concerts (e.g., Melb shows re: death of Denise) but agree that to my knowledge he never let on that he was ill or hurting ... or anything else. Yet here we are: Prince died from using an opiate 50 times stronger than heroin. I don't know about anyone else but it literally just hurts my heart to think... to know... that there was something he suffered from silently and/or deliberately hid for years, whether through shame, privacy, or denial. Heartbroken.

[Edited 6/5/16 20:41pm]

farnorth said:

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

Thank you for sharing this farnorth. It is a very good read and I was astounded to read why she felt he waited to get medical treatment for his dependence; hearing it from someone else who may have a better idea of what was happening made it all so real. The fear of people finding out and damaging his reputation, the shame, was a big part of the waiting and getting treatment through back channels it would seem. I have been talking about this very factor a lot, even today (like a broken record, sorry). This article made me cry. I feel so bad for Prince and I love him.

[Edited 6/5/16 22:45pm]

bilbolives said:

farnorth said:

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

Thank you. Ms. Herman draws a connection between our society's stigmatization of addiction to painkillers with an explanation for Prince's furtive actions. She calls for more compassion and understanding to counteract the shame and fear that motivate our cultural belief systems and behaviors.

Her message is laudable and I strongly agree with it. What I'm not sure about, though, are some of the bits she includes as facts:

That Prince did have double hip replacement surgery in 2010 (but it only left a scar on one hip?), that "surgery failed to relieve his pain" and that he didn't begin chronic pain treatment until after that time. That her pain from four car accidents and surgery was "nothing like the pain Prince was enduring" and that he was facing "severe pain for the rest of [his] life".

If she doesn't know these thing as absolute facts - and she provides nothing to indicate that she does - then she is engaging in sadly the same possible misstatements and possible exaggerations that are symptoms of the problem: shame and fear of stigma.

He doesn't have to have the most severe pain of all time intractably for the rest of his life and forever unrelievable by surgery, to "justify" being caught up in taking opioids or in opioid dependence or to deserve compassion. Nobody does.

benni said:

spastic78 said:

benni said:

The report said he died of an accidental Fentanyl toxicity, which is a medication that is generally prescribed by a doctor to patients dealing with chronic pain or have developed a tolerance to other pain medications or to cancer patients. It did not say he died of an accidental drug overdose. Also, another thing to keep in mind, the implication you seem to be making is that he was "addicted", but many here have talked about their own use of opoids to deal with chronic pain and have talked about the difference between dependency and addiction. And there is a difference. Even someone who is dependent upon opoids to deal with their chronic pain can develop a tolerance for those medications.

[Edited 6/5/16 20:08pm]

Exactly! "Accidental overdose" of a pain medication -Fentanyl. Various reports/articles/testimonies have verified Prince lived with chronic pain. That's also why he used a cane and limped sometimes. I think all these negative speculations eager to malign Prince's reputation are just motivated by the authors' personal agendas as they try to live their life. The bottom line is Prince is no longer here today but he left a legacy that can be appreciated by people all over the world. If you feel bothered by how or why Prince died then take a deep look at yourself and your life. Are you living a genuine life? Are you who you want to be? Do you like yourself? Are you angry with yourself? Do you feel insecure about your life? Chances are your reaction to Prince's death is rooted in the answers to those questions. Namaste.

Thank you.

Eileen said:

bilbolives said:

Thank you. Ms. Herman draws a connection between our society's stigmatization of addiction to painkillers with an explanation for Prince's furtive actions. She calls for more compassion and understanding to counteract the shame and fear that motivate our cultural belief systems and behaviors.

Her message is laudable and I strongly agree with it. What I'm not sure about, though, are some of the bits she includes as facts:

That Prince did have double hip replacement surgery in 2010 (but it only left a scar on one hip?), that "surgery failed to relieve his pain" and that he didn't begin chronic pain treatment until after that time. That her pain from four car accidents and surgery was "nothing like the pain Prince was enduring" and that he was facing "severe pain for the rest of [his] life".

If she doesn't know these thing as absolute facts - and she provides nothing to indicate that she does - then she is engaging in sadly the same possible misstatements and possible exaggerations that are symptoms of the problem: shame and fear of stigma.

He doesn't have to have the most severe pain of all time intractably for the rest of his life and forever unrelievable by surgery, to "justify" being caught up in taking opioids or in opioid dependence or to deserve compassion. Nobody does.

I caught the hip comment too and it bothered me since I don't believe it's ever been confirmed...especially a double hip replacement. Unless she knows more than we do. And yes, Prince and anyone else dealing with an opiate dependency deserves compassion no matter the circumstances. One can develop a dependence in the most simple circumstances.

Her thoughts on his delayed treatment, etc rings true, however. Perhaps it could be untrue, but I feel there was too much trying to keep it under wraps which created problems for him to get the appropriate and timely treatment. I am extremely sad over this. Devastated.

[Edited 6/5/16 21:23pm]

And just to be a little more clear, it states "accidental fentanyl toxicity" as the cause of death. There are several things (besides taking too much fentanyl) that can result in toxicity. Including the following:

Though these deaths are sometimes related to inappropriate or recreational use, some have been tied to defective products such as leaky Duragesic patches, to doctors prescribing the drug for less than severe pain, or to confusion or misunderstanding of directions for use it. There have already been class action lawsuits relating to injuries.

The potential risk of overdose has proven to be particularly high. This danger tends to be highest when:

• They are used by patients who do not have a tolerance for opioid medications

• There is off-label use

• The medication is combined with other narcotics

• The instructions are not followed exactly

• The product is leaky or defective

********************************************************

I've bolded the combined with other narcotics, because it has been stated that percocets were found on Prince. It is possible that he took the percocets, felt they weren't working, and then applied a fentanyl patch on top of that, not realizing that this could result in a disaster. Everyone is assuming he overdosed by taking too much, which may be the case, but the report was pretty specific in stating "accidental toxicity".

Editing to add that it also states that exercise, using hot tubs, heating pads, taking hot baths (increasing the body's temperature) can also have an adverse effect, and cause toxicity.

[Edited 6/5/16 21:11pm]

benni said:

Benni, respectfully, I think all the items you listed are more likely than the one you bolded - "The medication is combined with other narcotics".

Not to say that he possibly didn't have other narcotics in his system, but I believe that in order to find the cause as one narcotic, the drug listed had to clearly be at a toxic level, clearly and obviously on its own certain to result in death.

If it resulted in death probably or only in combination with other narcotics, I believe they would have to list the cause as polypharmacy and include all involved medications.

Eileen said:

Benni, respectfully, I think all the items you listed are more likely than the one you bolded - "The medication is combined with other narcotics".

Not to say that he possibly didn't have other narcotics in his system, but I believe that in order to find the cause as one narcotic, the drug listed had to clearly be at a toxic level, clearly and obviously on its own certain to result in death.

If it resulted in death probably or only in combination with other narcotics, I believe they would have to list the cause as polypharmacy and include all involved medications.

Actually, in researching that, they would not have to list the other narcotics involved if the dosages were not that high. However, in looking into this, again we are looking at toxicity not necessarily overdose. Also, if they did find the other narcotic in his system but at a dosage that was not high enough to be fatal, then the added dosage of fentanyl would be termed as a toxic level. The toxicty comes into play because in using such medications as percocets, it can slow down how quickly your liver processes the pain medications, which can cause an increase in the pain medication showing up in your blood and thereby cause more serious side effects.

benni said:

Eileen said:

Benni, respectfully, I think all the items you listed are more likely than the one you bolded - "The medication is combined with other narcotics".

Not to say that he possibly didn't have other narcotics in his system, but I believe that in order to find the cause as one narcotic, the drug listed had to clearly be at a toxic level, clearly and obviously on its own certain to result in death.

If it resulted in death probably or only in combination with other narcotics, I believe they would have to list the cause as polypharmacy and include all involved medications.

Actually, in researching that, they would not have to list the other narcotics involved if the dosages were not that high. However, in looking into this, again we are looking at toxicity not necessarily overdose. Also, if they did find the other narcotic in his system but at a dosage that was not high enough to be fatal, then the added dosage of fentanyl would be termed as a toxic level. The toxicty comes into play because in using such medications as percocets, it can slow down how quickly your liver processes the pain medications, which can cause an increase in the pain medication showing up in your blood and thereby cause more serious side effects.

I believe this is accurate. If another over-the-counter medicine was not at toxic level, it does not have to be listed as a contributing factor.

spastic78 said:

No, only the drug that was at toxic levels would be listed unkess there was a known negative interaction of the drugs in the body. Liability issues, So Benni is right.

That's exactly what I said.

farnorth said:

https://boingboing.net/2016/06/05/prince-death-by-ignorance-and.html

Maureen Herman on Prince, chronic pain, and shaming addiction.

Good article and so true. In the US, we need to take a different look at addiction and mental illness. Changing attitudes is difficult, but over time, with the right education, people's attitudes can change.

benni said:

Eileen said:

I believe that in order to find the cause as one narcotic, the drug listed had to clearly be at a toxic level, clearly and obviously on its own certain to result in death.

If it resulted in death probably or only in combination with other narcotics, I believe they would have to list the cause as polypharmacy and include all involved medications.

Actually, in researching that, they would not have to list the other narcotics involved if the dosages were not that high. However, in looking into this, again we are looking at toxicity not necessarily overdose. Also, if they did find the other narcotic in his system but at a dosage that was not high enough to be fatal, then the added dosage of fentanyl would be termed as a toxic level. The toxicty comes into play because in using such medications as percocets, it can slow down how quickly your liver processes the pain medications, which can cause an increase in the pain medication showing up in your blood and thereby cause more serious side effects.

I'm not sure about how you're parsing this overall, nor dividing toxicity from overdose... I'm not convinced.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3805449/

Documenting Causality on the Death Certificate: The ME/C must determine which one, or more, of the drugs detected is present in a concentration that is sufficient—by itself or in combination—to be toxic and to be listed as a the cause of death.10,11 All drugs that are deemed physiologically significant in causing death should be listed individually in Part 1 of the cause of death portion of the death certificate.

In drug-caused deaths that result from the combined effects of multiple drugs on the central nervous system, all drugs that contributed to the underlying cause of death should be listed in Part I of the death certificate.

Specifying individual drug names on the death certificate is important because death certificates are the source documents for national mortality statistics.

when reporting a death due to the acute toxic effects of a drug, use toxicity, toxic effects, intoxication, or poisoning in the Cause of Death portion of the death certificate

It is best to avoid the term overdose because it lacks a specific meaning.