I’m in a bit of a funk today…not because I was a huge fan of Whitney Houston, though I know her talent was immense and her impact on the world considerable. I liked her music and appreciated her voice, but I wouldn’t say her death itself makes me exceptionally sad. I think what’s bothering me today is the possible connection to the way my brother died.  Now, no one knows how she died (at least no one outside of her nearest and dearest, if they even do).  I’m willing to bet, though, that if most people were asked what they think, they would point to drug use, and they may be right.   When I first heard about it, I suspected something different.

Ever since Heath Ledger died, I have been concerned about the many that have died due to unintentional prescription drug overdose. This is what killed Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, perhaps Whitney Houston, and my brother (also gay, by the way). Let me be clear.  I have NOTHING to base my inkling about Whitney Houston on except for the circumstances, and that evidence is admittedly flimsy.  All 3 celebrities (and my brother) were found dead in their hotel room or at home at a relatively young age, with no known cause at the time of death. Even if my brother hadn’t died that way, I’d be concerned. Maybe it’s a matter of people getting prescriptions from different doctors and not realizing that the combinations could kill them. It’s possible they did it intentionally (I’m not referring to suicide but to getting medications from different places to try to address an issue that hadn’t been managed by one medication) or it could be an oversight on the part of the doctors or pharmacists. Regardless of the cause, I think it’s clear something needs to change, though I don’t have the solution. Do we need stricter monitoring of prescriptions and pharmacies? How many icons do we need to lose (my brother excepted, though he was something of an icon to me at times!) before something is done?

Whitney, Heath, Michael, Phil, RIP.