Anna Nicole's son died of unnatural causes

[JazmenFlowers]

I was straight edge for about 2 hours once.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Irt took me awhile, but I only did it for like two years --- I saw what the hard stuff did to people and it scared me back to that straight edge, though I LOVE a cockatil

caused my older brother his military career (His drug use went from social to the point where he stole to feed it-Thus he was kicked outta the US Army) and my oldest brother his brain cells (Anyone who OPENLY admits that they have to "have a 24 pack before 10AM every day just to function" must have lost ALOT of brain cells).

One thing, I don't consider myself better than my siblings cause of my choices & their choices. I'm just open minded, but at the same time I am a person who believes people should know the affect their actions may cause in the future, and if those affects are negative then deal with 'em and blame noone but yourself.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

caused my older brother his military career (His drug use went from social to the point where he stole to feed it-Thus he was kicked outta the US Army) and my oldest brother his brain cells (Anyone who OPENLY admits that they have to "have a 24 pack before 10AM every day just to function" must have lost ALOT of brain cells).

One thing, I don't consider myself better than my siblings cause of my choices & their choices. I'm just open minded, but at the same time I am a person who believes people should know the affect their actions may cause in the future, and if those affects are negative then deal with 'em and blame noone but yourself.

If more of the world accepted responsibility like that - it would be a better place.

[chiliD]

Ok...so they say he was given methadone for pain. I wonder if that's a misquote and they actually meant morphine.

[BTFLCHLD]

Just so we are all clear on the medicinal purposes of methodone...it isn't just for "addicts" anymore.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050401/1353.html

Methadone is a synthetic opioid with potent analgesic effects. Although it is associated commonly with the treatment of opioid addiction, it may be prescribed by licensed family physicians for analgesia. Methadone's unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics make it a valuable option in the management of cancer pain and other chronic pain, including neuropathic pain states. It may be an appropriate replacement for opioids when side effects have limited further dosage escalation. Metabolism of and response to methadone varies with each patient. Transition to methadone and dosage titration should be completed slowly and with frequent monitoring. Conversion should be based on the current daily oral morphine equivalent dosage. After starting methadone therapy or increasing the dosage, systemic toxicity may not become apparent for several days. Some medications alter the absorption or metabolism of methadone, and their concurrent use may require dosing adjustments. Methadone is less expensive than other sustained-release opioid formulations. (Am Fam Physician 2005;71:1353-8. Copyright© 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians.)

Methadone is a synthetic opioid. Although structurally dissimilar to morphine (MS Contin), methadone has significant analgesic qualities. Because the high dosages used in preliminary testing of methadone caused substantial side effects, the drug was not used clinically for several years.1 During the 1950s, methadone emerged as a treatment for opioid addiction and has remained the primary therapy for this condition for more than 40 years. Recently, methadone has been used to manage cancer pain and other chronic pain states. Its unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics make methadone a valuable option, but physicians should be aware of possible side effects.

[gldstwmn]

I don't know about the source but...

http://www.starmagazine.com/celebrit...rtainment/9876

WORLD EXCLUSIVE!
ANNA NICOLE SMITH WEDS HOWARD K. STERN!

Posted Thursday, Sept. 28 / 2 pm ET

Anna Nicole Smith married her long-time attorney and close confidante, Howard K. Stern, this morning just shortly before 10:30 am in Nassau, Bahamas. The wedding occurred only 18 days after the death of Anna's son Daniel, 20, from an accidental drug overdose in her Nassau hospital room on September 10.

In a world-exclusive report, an eyewitness tells Star that Anna, 38, and Howard, 37, tied the knot shortly before 10:30 am on the morning of September 28, while sailing on a white catamaran off of Nassau!

"There was heavy security around the yacht, plus extra speedboats to deliver more supplies as needed (including unlimited Dom Perignon champagne) from the mainland to the catamaran," says the eyewitness, who adds that the wedding party celebrated the union afterwards by having a swim party around the yacht — "and Anna was wearing a pink bikini! Later on, she changed into a colorful, one-piece suit with a wrap around her waist."

Two days before, on September 26, Stern appeared live on the Larry King Show via satellite from the Bahamas, to announce that he was the father of Anna's newborn daughter Danilynne Hope, that he and Anna "love each other" — and that the duo would get married "at some point."

Apparently, that point arrived much sooner than later. A source adds: "Stern was making all the arrangements in the days before the wedding."

This is apparently Stern's first marriage, but the third for Smith. She was a teen bride with Billy Wayne Smith (Daniel's father) in Texas in 1985; they divorced two years later. Smith then married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall in June 1994. He died in 1995, and Anna — who recently became a legal resident of the Bahamas — is still battling in court for her share of his estate.

EXCLUSIVE: LARRY BIRKHEAD REACTS TO THE SHOCKING NEWS!
When contacted by Star about our breaking story of Anna Nicole Smith's wedding to Howard K. Stern, celebrity photographer Larry Birkhead, 31 — the former Smith boyfriend who has steadfastly claimed to be the father of Anna's new daughter Danilynne Hope — stated: "That’s not a grief-stricken mother. He [Howard] wants to take over paternity and that’s his maneuver. Nothing shocks me now. It gets crazier and crazier.”

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Would it be so surprising that the son of ANS was a drug addict? I don't think so. And I don't think we should make moral judgements on addicts. I think under certain circumstances anyone can become an addict. Like having a mother too self-absorbed to really be there for you, with a permissive attitude, plus having money, and access.

My suspicion all along was that either she or Howard gave Daniel something either for the pain or to help him sleep. And the combination caused him to accidentally overdose.

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

Just so we are all clear on the medicinal purposes of methodone...it isn't just for "addicts" anymore.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050401/1353.html

Methadone is a synthetic opioid with potent analgesic effects. Although it is associated commonly with the treatment of opioid addiction, it may be prescribed by licensed family physicians for analgesia. Methadone's unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics make it a valuable option in the management of cancer pain and other chronic pain, including neuropathic pain states. It may be an appropriate replacement for opioids when side effects have limited further dosage escalation. Metabolism of and response to methadone varies with each patient. Transition to methadone and dosage titration should be completed slowly and with frequent monitoring. Conversion should be based on the current daily oral morphine equivalent dosage. After starting methadone therapy or increasing the dosage, systemic toxicity may not become apparent for several days. Some medications alter the absorption or metabolism of methadone, and their concurrent use may require dosing adjustments. Methadone is less expensive than other sustained-release opioid formulations. (Am Fam Physician 2005;71:1353-8. Copyright© 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians.)

Methadone is a synthetic opioid. Although structurally dissimilar to morphine (MS Contin), methadone has significant analgesic qualities. Because the high dosages used in preliminary testing of methadone caused substantial side effects, the drug was not used clinically for several years.1 During the 1950s, methadone emerged as a treatment for opioid addiction and has remained the primary therapy for this condition for more than 40 years. Recently, methadone has been used to manage cancer pain and other chronic pain states. Its unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics make methadone a valuable option, but physicians should be aware of possible side effects.

I agree with Suze. Given his age and the fact that he didn't have any unmanagable chronic pain- I believe he was either prescribed methadone for drug addiction or was getting it illegally. Methadone is EXTREMELY dangerous. The dose my husband takes every day would kill someone else in twenty seconds. Methadone has a horrible stigma, but I won't bore you all by talking about it. I'll just say that if he WAS taking it legally, for drug addiction, I feel badly that his care was so mismanaged. The whole thing is very sad.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by jannieC

I agree with Suze. Given his age and the fact that he didn't have any unmanagable chronic pain- I believe he was either prescribed methadone for drug addiction or was getting it illegally. Methadone is EXTREMELY dangerous. The dose my husband takes every day would kill someone else in twenty seconds. Methadone has a horrible stigma, but I won't bore you all by talking about it. I'll just say that if he WAS taking it legally, for drug addiction, I feel badly that his care was so mismanaged. The whole thing is very sad.

So true. It's a very sad situation.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

My suspicion all along was that either she or Howard gave Daniel something either for the pain or to help him sleep. And the combination caused him to accidentally overdose.

Which may well explain the initial reports from hospital personnel that ANS yelled "you caused this!" I don't know. If they have gotten married, I am surprised they did so so soon after Daniel's death. They may well not be in the best state of mind. If Howard made the mistake of giving him an additional drug he must be ridden with guilt. And, I have to say there were so many emotions expressed on his face during that interview I was left wondering on it all. I do not know what to think about it all anymore. We may never know.

[desertangel]

This wedding thing smacks of a similar situation as when Stevie married Kim Anderson shortly after Robin's death. So I was watching some news channel tonight and they had that coroner guy commenting on the toxicology report, he said very much what I was questioning... about how was it that Daniel had been taking two ADs at the same time. He also said that very often, especially in Hollywood, people go to more than one doctor and are given prescriptions.... blah blah blah. The other thing is, I learned a couple years ago that methadone is a big seller on the black market as a street drug. Did anyone in the media say if the methadone was prescribed, or any of the drugs he'd taken? Well, I expect we'll be hearing about this for awhile.

[strandinthewind]

If they got married, it smacks to me of a legal maneuver.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

If they got married, it smacks to me of a legal maneuver.

a legal maneuver to what end? Howard and Anna have been with each other (in one capacity or another) for years....what purpose would marriage serve?
What sort of maneuver is necessary for a grieving couple? and Marriage would protect how?

[strandinthewind]

They cannot be compelled to testify

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

They cannot be compelled to testify

*slaps head* Oh Yeah, Duh!