News: The Life of Prince by Maggie Jones

Prince Rogers Nelson passed away on April 21, 2016, of an apparent drug overdose.  The world has suffered a terrible loss, and is now reflecting on its origins.  According to the Wall Street Journal, at the time of his death, Prince possessed prescription opioids.  It is unclear if these were prescribed to him or not.  

    However, days prior to his death, Prince suffered an overdose on Percocet.  His flight was forced to make an emergency landing, and he was given Narcan, an antidote that treats narcotic overdoses.  CNN reported on Prince’s half brother, Duane, who apparently knew of the singer’s battle with painkillers.  Prince’s lawyer states, "Duane told me that he witnessed him taking the drugs and he also procured Percocet for him.”  

    The beloved singer and unsung humanitarian’s tragic death brings up even more tragedy: the war on drug addiction.  In 2014, more than 14,000 people died because of an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  This study found that most of the deaths were those of people ages twenty-five to fifty-four years old.  It is important to now bring up the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction.  Drug abuse is, essentially, the “testing period” of consumption.  At this point, the user is experiencing enjoyable responses to the abused drug.  Not until the user becomes reliant on the drug does it become an addiction.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2009 survey found that 9.3 percent of people twelve years and older required treatment for a drug or alcohol abuse problem.  Again and again, twelve proves to be the age that drug experimentation begins.  According to the Addiction Center, this is the apparent result of peer pressure, curiosity, stress, emotional struggles, and a desire to escape.  

     Prince’s 1988 song, “Escape,” is uniquely and ironically an anti-drug/anti-gang anthem.  “You got to be yourself, you gotta be aware,” are words Prince shared in “Escape.”  Who was he targeting with lyrics that profound?  His loyal audience remains vast and diverse, which means that these lyrics were written for each and every one of them.  But, even a non-listener can appreciate his words.  Prince’s controversial death remains scandalous, but his legacy remains beautiful.  He was an advocate of individuality and self-expression.  Despite an alleged heart breaking addiction, he made a lasting imprint on those struggling to simply be themselves.  “You got to be yourself, you gotta be aware.”