Tom Petty: It was an "accidental" OD

Years ago, I co-founded a chronic pain support group. We built it up to around 50 members who would attend our weekly meetings in a classroom at the local church. 

Chronic pain people learn how to medicate ... usually with a combination of alcohol and opiate drugs. The combination really works to knock the pain down. The problem is that we build up a tolerance to these drugs (including alcohol) and need ever increasing doses to get the desired effects. 

I had a lot of conversations with my own neurosurgeon about pain meds and learned that they can actually cause pain. He encouraged me to attempt to get the members to reduce their drug intake ... with the approval of their doctors of course. 

One of the first things we would do was to interview the new member of the group. They told us about what led to their chronic pain situation, what drugs they were taking ... and then the big question: Are you thinking about suicide? About half of the new members would admit that they were on the edge of ending their lives and that we were their last resort.  The difference now was that they were in a large group of people who at one time had the very same strain of thought. 

At the new member's very first meeting, we would encourage them to start breaking their pain meds in half and only take half doses until the next meeting. At the next meeting we encouraged them to break the meds in half again. Slowly, they were weaned off of the drugs ... at which time, their pain was reduced as well as their depression and suicidal compulsions. Those suffering from chronic pain can find a lot of relief just by sharing with others similarly afflicted.

Like my neurosurgeon would say ... "happiness is not having pain." 

Frank 

My spinal fusion occurred nearly nine years ago. I spent a decade prior seeing doctors with intermittent back issues. I was always told after x-rays that the problem was muscular, given pain meds and muscle relaxers, and sent on my way. Less than one hour before two discs disintegrated, i got the same story. After my surgery, I spent years in varying degrees of pain. I received spinal injections 3 - 4 times annually to try to cope.
I now use oxy as prescribed by my doctor. It doesn't take away the pain, but makes it bearable. I follow the scrip to the letter and I am thankful that I have it. Chronic pain is no joke. It doesn't go away, it wakes you from sleep, it is present every second of every day, affects your loved ones and robs you of the joy of life. Maybe TP's death was accidental. Maybe it wasn't. I can assure you that anyone that has dealt with this issue for a period of time has considered all means of making it stop.
 

Let’s talk about these old cocker- rockers who only feel comfortable touring no matter how much wealth they have accumulated. It’s their choice to continue to abuse their bodies doing the only job they know how to do and love. I used to race cars in the day, and the thought of putting myself back in that game is suicidal. I am not blaming these high profile types, but when you push yourself as an old man in a young man’s game stuff happens.