Deepak Chopra Says Drug Abuse Killed Michael Jackson, He's Willing to Name Doctors Who Prescribed Pills

The official cause of Michael Jackson's death has yet to be determined, but Deepak Chopra, who was a long-time confidant and friend for 21 years, said the singer was killed by his abuse of prescription drugs.

Chopra said Michael had lupus and vitiligo, but insists he knows it was drugs that was "responsible" for Michael's death. Not just contributing, he said, it was "the thing".

"I think that drugs killed him," he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer moments ago. The same claim was made by family attorney Brian Oxman.

"There are a plethora of doctors in Hollywood. They're drug peddlers, they're drug pushers, they just happen to have a medical license," Chopra said. "I hope this episode today. this tragic death of a great human being will bring to light the huge problem we have in Hollywood with some of the medical establishment. The celebrity doctors who not only imitate people into the drug experience, but then they perpetuate it so that the people become dependent on it. I will be bold enough to identify these people at a certain time, but I think the police should do their own investigation. I think this is something that really should be investigated because it's a disease. The number one cause of drug addiction in the world - and particularly in the United States - is not street drugs, but medical prescriptions given legally by physicians."

Chopra said Michael, who was living at his home for a week after the 2005 child molestation trial, asked him for a prescription for a narcotic; Michael claimed to have back pain. Chopra scolded Michael and did not give him the prescription.

When Wolf asked if Michael was addicted to prescription drugs, Chopra said: "In my belief, and from what I know, he was."

Chopra said he knew Michael was taking Oxycontin, Demerol shots and "other narcotics."


Meanwhile, People magazine reports:

As far back as 2006, members of Michael's family were terrified that his escalating dependence on prescription drugs had become a danger to his life – and attempted an intervention in Las Vegas.

"The family believes Michael is addicted," a family insider said. "There was an intervention in Las Vegas. Janet was on the phone, but Randy, Jackie and Rebbie were there in person," the source said, referring to several of Michael's eight siblings.

"Michael got p---ed off. He said he wasn't on drugs. But they didn't believe him."

At the time of the Vegas intervention, another source close to the family blamed a Jackson aide for supplying the superstar with drugs from prescriptions acquired from multiple doctors.

"[The aide] has contacts wherever they are," said the source. In addition to consuming alcohol, Jackson takes "straight morphine, Demerol and opiates like Oxycontin. He also takes Valium and Xanax," said the insider.

"Michael is a clinically functioning addict and these are the most dangerous," the source continued. "They stop and start. These are the ones that OD ... It could happen any minute."


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