Prince died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid painkiller that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin, autopsy results released Thursday show.
The findings confirm suspicions that opioids played a role in the death of the superstar musician, who was found dead 21 April at his Minneapolis-area estate.
According to a one-page report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, Prince administered the drug himself on an unknown date. The office said the death investigation is complete, and it had no further comment.
It was not immediately clear whether Prince had a prescription for the drug or how he obtained it. At least one friend has said he suffered from intense knee and hip pain from many years of stage performances.
The results raised the possibility that anyone who provided the drug illegally could face criminal charges.
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