I’m probably not alone in thinking that the media is spending way too much time and energy on Michael Jackson. I have never been a fan of his, so maybe i just don’t get it. But is he really worthy of all this attention? Is this attention because of his contributions or because of his eccentricities?
I don’t think it is a big leap to say that Michael Jackson died of an accidental drug overdose. Maybe I’m wrong, but that is the safe bet. I think his escalating treatments for his “insomnia” finally did him in.
It seems that the only reason anyone was interested in Micheal Jackson over the last decade or was his erratic behavior. He sold millions of records and was a phenomenon…in the 80’s. Since then he has been a tabloid mainstay. He was a very self absorbed person by all accounts. He surrounded himself with sycophant staff and manipulated them into keeping his family at bay and procuring large amounts of prescription drugs.
Michael Jackson was amazingly talented, but this does not exempt him from being human. He suffered many of the same ups and downs that we all do. But unlike the rest of us these were exaggerated by being perpetually on display.
He suffered as we all do at some point. Some make note of the fact that he was diagnosed with lupus, which is potentially a very disabling autoimmune disease. But 1.5 million other Americans are also diagnosed with lupus. With his fame, he could have done a lot to raise public awareness of this disease. As far as I know, he did not.
I bet the real reason that Michael Jackson had insomnia was because he was addicted to sedative/hypnotic drugs. As this addiction worsens, those afflicted become increasingly tolerant of the drugs effect, thus requiring larger doses. When larger doses are not available, withdrawal sets in. In the case of Xanax, which he reportedly took 10mg a day (I believe the medical literature would classify this as a shitload) the withdrawal syndrome would be a hyperaroused state. This would manifest as anxiety, agitation, increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as insomnia. Drug addicts typically are endlessly cycling between intoxication and withdrawal. In Michael Jackson’s case, he had the means and influence to procure insanely large amounts of medications. He even had his own personal anesthesiologist. WTF??
Just because he didn’t have to rob a liquor store to get his fix doesn’t make him any less of a drug addict. I’m convinced that his drug addiction explains his erratic behavior (e.g. dangling a baby over a balcony) and his poor judgment (reckless spending, excessive plastic surgery etc.)
33,000 people die in America each year from an accidental drug overdose. That is about one person every 16 minutes. Michael Jackson may have been one of those people.
