WebMD Newsroom

By Michael Smith, MD
Chief Medical Editor, WebMD

Update: News outlets are reporting that the autopsy was completed on Sunday, February 12. No new information has been revealed at this time; details will not be released for 6-8 weeks.

Given Whitney Houston’s past struggles with drug addiction and the fact that she was so young, many were quick to turn to drug overdose as the most likely cause of her very unfortunate death.

No official cause of death has been released yet, but several news sources, including CNN and the Los Angeles Times,  were citing information on entertainment  news website TMZ, which said that Houston, 48, was found unconscious Saturday in the bathtub of her hotel room. According to TMZ, police found several bottles of prescription drugs in her Beverly Hills hotel room, including Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

Houston’s struggles with drug abuse are well-documented, and she talked candidly with Oprah Winfrey about them during a 2009 interview.

So were prescription drugs to blame? We won’t know for sure whether Xanax or other drugs may have contributed to Houston’s death until the toxicology report comes back, likely several weeks from now.

Prescription drug overdose is now the most common cause of death from a drug overdose. In November 2011, WebMD reported there are 40 deaths per day from prescription painkillers, surpassing deaths from heroin and cocaine combined. While prescription drugs are safe when used as directed, mixing certain drugs or taking them incorrectly can have dangerous consequences.

We will provide updates on the circumstances of Houston’s death as more information becomes available.