I would bet Ledger did not have prescriptions for most if any of the drugs found in him. Even in my sleepy little world far away from the glories of LA is is far to easy to obtain hydrocodone, oxycodone and valium just by asking around. A luminous star like Ledger probably had 'friends' more than happy to supply him.

A singular issue I see on our society today is the lack of accepting responsibility for our lives and how we live it. The burdens in our life are not always someone else's fault.

The only blame for this unfortunate death should be placed directly on his casket.

Well said Gary.

oh man here we go again...the mean doctor trying to relieve suffering is to blame...the cruel,cruel pharmaceutical researchers are so heartless , that poor poor movie star didn't stand a chance, he had no choice...pffttt

With the amount of information that's available these days, if you don't do your due diligence (like, Wikipedia xanax, hydrocodone and valium)...then you're a moron.

If you have half a brain, you can figure out in about 3 minutes on the internet, what that combo of drugs will do to you. Let's see...Central Nervous System depressant, Central Nervous System depressant, and Central Nervous System depressant....hm.

It's called Darwinism, or perhaps more succintly, survival of the fittest. Putting a f**kton of drugs in your body with no regard for how they act or interact is illustrating lack of fitness.

RIP Heath.

Both are cases of engaging in risky behavior that didn't put anyone else at risk. Seriously, really think about what makes them that different besides the knee jerk reaction that "drugs are bad because, well just because" reason.

I'm not a drug user past or present but if someone wants to have a few drinks (knowing full well that alchohol causes untold fatalities every year) I figure it's their business as long as they don't endanger others.

I want to be allowed to do what I want and I respect that others may do the same. (And I'll feel bad if they die riding a motorcycle even though they knew it was dangerous.)

-Chris

Some stuff is legal while other stuff isn't.

You really don't see any differences???

Articulate the differences you see.
-Chris

This is one of the reasons I would rather pursue a career as a professional fluffer than being a doc for adult patients. Way too much drugs involved. Too complicated. Kids, on the other hand, are easy. Sure, they sometimes need medication too, but rarely a mix of many types simultaneously.

The

Chris has got a point. They can both be defined as engaging in risky behaviour to acheive (momentary) happiness.

Bungee jumping, parachuting, skydiving, off piste skiing, car racing, motorcycle racing... aren't all these activities done to acheive a "high"? Why would you jump off an airplane if it wasn't for the adrenaline pumping through your body?

So yes "these" drugs are illegal.. but what about drinking?

He was really doing no harm to anybody else... just getting high in is bedroom.

I would, choices are choices.

He probably had the prescriptions from several doctors, in more than one country, as I understand the situation.

In many if not most cases, a physician who gives you a prescription you feel you don't need is doing so for medicolegal purposes.

He did not just hurt himself, he left his little girl fatherless, though I can't imagine he was much good to her alive doing the dope as he was. His baby's momma kept him away due to drugs.

Markus, if you have any teenagers, you have at least some dopers

Gee ...so another Hollywood actor (actress) that can't stand the intense pressures of being adored by movie goers and hounded by the paparazzi, O.D.'s.

Perhaps he could have lived on ...made millions$$, become guilt ridden by his unworthy successes and ...gone to Africa to adopt orphans, or climbed a Red Wood in CA to save it from being cut down, teamed up with A. Gore to save the planet, or visited North Korea as a Good Will Ambassador?

We can only mourn our loss and what might have been. (sniff)

I'm sure gonna miss him. (yawn)