Although investigators suspect that rapper and producer Mac Miller died of a possible drug overdose, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said it will delay any final pronouncement on the cause of death until toxicology tests are completed. Miller, 26, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick, was found Friday in the bedroom of his Studio City home and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. A friend had called authorities. Sarah Ardalani, a coroner’s office spokeswoman, said an autopsy had been completed on Miller’s body, but the determination of a cause of death has been deferred pending additional tests. She said there is no timeline for when those tests will be completed. Toxicology tests can take six weeks or more and typically show medication and narcotics in the body at the time of death. Sources involved in the investigation, who were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said Miller is suspected to have died of an overdose. A friend of Miller’s who called authorities told paramedics that Miller seemed to go into cardiac arrest, according to one of the sources. Advertisement Paramedics responded to Miller’s home at 11:42 a.m. Friday for a suspected drug overdose. By 11:51 a.m. Miller was pronounced dead after being found “unresponsive” in the house in the 11600 block of Valleycrest Road, Ardalani said. Los Angeles police officials quickly determined there were no signs of foul play and turned the investigation over to coroner’s officials. The rapper had long struggled with drug and alcohol issues. Shortly after his public split with singer Ariana Grande in May, the rapper crashed his Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV into a pole. Miller and two passengers fled the scene in the San Fernando Valley, but he was later arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Miller was best known for his hits “Donald Trump,” “Self Care” and “Programs.” He garnered attention as a teenager in Pittsburgh with a series of mix tapes. Pittsburgh’s music community has planned a vigil for Tuesday. Miller also worked as a producer under the name Larry Fisherman. Miller’s struggles had played out in the tabloids, particularly his relationship with Grande. In an interview published in August in Rolling Stone, Miller said that his breakup with Grande was difficult, but that he was moving on with a new album. Advertisement “I’m just being real. That’s good. Now I have space for me. And that’s great too,” he told the magazine. He also pushed back against concerns over his drug use. “If a bunch of people think I am a huge drug addict, OK. Cool. What can I really do?” he said. “Have I done drugs? Yeah. But am I a drug addict? No.” In an interview with Vulture, he said he tried not to worry about the headlines about him and what others think. Advertisement “It just seems exhausting to always be battling something … to always be battling for what you think your image is supposed to be. You’re never going to be able to get anything across. It’s never gonna be the real … No one’s gonna ever really know me,” he said. In his last Instagram story on Thursday, Miller posted a video of a record player spinning “So It Goes,” the last track on his fifth studio album, “Swimming.” The song includes the lyric “Nine lives, never die … I’m still gettin’ high.” richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes<doc-sep>IT IS 3am in the drab front room of a nondescript house in an English market town and two young men each raise a polystyrene cup and knock them together. They grin and take a deep pull on the ice-cold purple drink, before settling into the sofa. 9 A Sun investigation reveals how a lethal cough syrup 'cocktail' is becoming popular in Britain Minutes later the pair will be in a hazy, opioid-induced stupor. The chief ingredient in their “cocktail” is a type of cough syrup loaded with the super-strength painkiller codeine — a cousin of morphine. The name of the concoction is purple drank, otherwise known as lean or sizzurp. It was thrust into the spotlight this month after the death of US rapper Mac Miller, the former boyfriend of pop star Ariana Grande. Miller, 26, died of a suspected overdose on September 7. While it is not known if purple drank was to blame, Miller admitted in a 2013 interview that he had been addicted to it. 9 The 'liquid heroin' has been blamed for killing Ariana Grande's ex Mac Miller Credit: Rex Features The potentially lethal drink — which has also been dubbed “liquid heroin” — is a mixture of cough syrup containing codeine and an antihistamine with a soft drink and a US brand of sweets. The antihistamine acts as a sedative at high doses, especially when mixed with codeine. It has long been popular in the US after rappers started using it in the 1990s. But a Sun investigation has found it is taking hold in British schools and universities. Six months ago, teachers at St Peter’s Church of England Aided School, a secondary in Exeter, had to warn parents that pupils were taking the drug. They had noticed youngsters’ slurred speech and droopy eyes, thought to be from downing up to 25 times the advised dose of the cough medicine contained in the drink. According to the NHS, admissions to hospitals in England for overdoses of opioid painkillers other than heroin surged to 20,130 cases last year, a rise of 85 per cent in the past decade. 9 Two purple drank drug dealers share how they make their money Social media sites such as YouTube are awash with videos showing youngsters how to make their own purple drank concoctions. But getting hold of the ingredients in Britain — where highly addictive codeine is a class B controlled drug — can thankfully prove tricky. While small doses of codeine can be found in common over-the-counter painkillers, its pure form is prescription-only. So while the sweets are easily and cheaply bought from specialist confectionery websites, the all-important syrup is harder to come by — which is where the growing number of British dealers step in. They buy the syrup illegally on the dark web, then mix their own purple drank. One dealer at a British university boasted to our reporter that he can make more than £1,000 a week selling bottles for £50 each. 9 It is not known if purple drank is the cause of death for Mac Miller, but he did admit in 2013 to be addicted to it Credit: Getty - Contributor He claimed drank has become so popular in Britain that he has two “cooks” working for him, mixing the drink in halls of residence using equipment taken from the science labs. Dressed in designer streetwear, the dealer — identified only as Leo — told us: “A bottle costs me £5 to make — that’s £45 profit. “When I first started getting into it a year ago it was quite a small thing, I was just doing it on the side. Now it’s my main business. I basically knocked selling other drugs on the head. “Most university students will be aware of lean, especially if you’re into that music, that scene. 9 Lewis Checkley reveals he drinks the syrup after coming home from raves “I have a couple of mates at other universities who get it off me to sell there. It is all around the UK.” The drink carries a massive risk of overdose, which may increase if people are also taking other substances or drinking booze. It is almost impossible for Leo to have any idea of the levels of codeine — which can be fatal in high doses — in his home-made batch. One bottle could completely differ from another. Users are easily spotted at parties by the telltale polystyrene cups filled with plum-coloured syrup, topped up with soft drink and flavoured with the sweets. The effects include slow or slurred speech, drowsiness, loss of balance and drained, pale-looking skin. Users have also complained of memory problems after taking the drink. 9 The concoction has long been popular with US rappers like Future, who has talked about the drink in his lyrics Credit: Getty - Contributor Leo said: “If someone overdoses then yeah, I am causing that, I suppose — but they are buying it. If they don’t get it from me they will get it elsewhere. “I tell them to be careful. I give them every piece of advice I can. Most people I sell to have had it off me before, so they know the craic with it.” In the US the trend came to a head in 2000 when hip-hop producer DJ Screw died of an overdose. Later pharmaceutical firm Actavis stopped making the codeine-mix medicines — and as a result, remaining bottles began changing hands for more than £1,000 as drug aficionados consider it the “Moet of lean”. In recent years artists such as Lil Wayne and Chris Brown have ­featured lean in their lyrics. 9 The dealers showed The Sun how easy it is to make this lethal drink Rapper Future, who has collaborated with Rihanna, Kanye West and Drake, is seen drinking from a polystyrene cup in the 2014 video for the track Codeine Crazy. His 2010 mixtape Dirty Sprite — another name for lean — sold a million copies. Despite the horror stories, purple drank is still finding new fans in the UK. One user, Lewis Checkley, a 23-year-old car mechanic, told us: “It writes you off. Everything around you is just chilled. You feel all floaty and spaced out. “You learn to mix it from videos — you can Google it. All our group have done it. A lot of people see it on Instagram.” Lewis likes to drink lean with student friend James after a night of partying, taking MDMA or ecstasy, at all-night raves. 9 Drug dealer Leo reveals a bottle costs him £5 and he can turn a £45 profit James said: “It chills you out after a rave — that’s when I like it most. Some like taking it at the rave, so you have the stumbling-around feeling, like you’re drunk. I like to be sat down and comfy. “I prefer it to alcohol — that makes me feel dirty in the morning. It hurts, whereas this doesn’t.” He and Lewis have been drinking it for six months, often getting through three bottles a week. James said: “You get to know your limitations from what other people do. If they’re fine I know to have a little. We don’t know how it’s made, or how much is in it.” Mac Miller said he didn't want to be a 'drugged up mess' in documentary film before his death But they claim their habit is tame compared to that of friends who recently had to cancel a holiday after overspending on lean. Dealer Leo, a student, is certainly putting lives at risk — his buyers have no idea how much codeine they are consuming, trusting only in the bottle’s home-made label. But he said: “I have a lot of friendship groups I want to keep in with and not have them end up in hospital from my doing. “If they don’t listen to you, that’s their fault. I’ve done my part by telling them to take it easy — it’s strong stuff.” 9 Supplying codeine is punishable by up to 14 years in prison He is also risking his freedom — supplying codeine is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Drug and alcohol charity Addaction is concerned young people are unaware of the danger of purple drank, which is also sold on Instagram. One page, Plugshxtttttt, had more than 3,200 followers before it was shut down by web administrators. Addaction’s Roz Gittins said: “We’ve had clients who report getting the idea from YouTube and have heard rappers talk of it. “When we tell them it’s opioid-based they’re often really surprised, not really having any idea it could be addictive or dangerous. New study finds cough syrup to have dangerous side effects when taken in excess and recommends giving children home remedies instead “Our concerns are that it is gaining in popularity because of social media and we want young people to be fully aware of what they may be consuming.” Her colleague, Young Addaction team leader Sonya Jones, said: “Some of our young service users have described being scared off using lean after seeing people overdose on it and being taken away in an ambulance. “It seems to be common among students, who are also looking to experiment with new substances, and the hip-hop group who see it as part of their culture because it’s mentioned so much in the music. “Once we explain it’s from the same group of substances as heroin, they’re often put off because there is a lot of stigma against heroin with young people.” MOST READ IN NEWS WAIT TARGET AXED Four hour A&E wait target set to be scrapped by NHS chiefs JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' TODDLER TRAGEDY Boy, 3, died in mum's arms of cancer weeks after he's sent home with Calpol AGE CONCERN People under 21 might be MORE vulnerable to Indian Covid variant, expert fears THUMBS UP! Simple thumb tests can reveal if you’re at risk of deadly heart problem Exclusive YORKSHIRE RIPPER? Cases of new Yorkshire variant double as 'worrying 25 mutations' probed James and Lewis were shocked to learn of the link to heroin. Lewis said: “I wouldn’t move on to heroin. If you have a good group of mates they won’t let you slide into stuff like that. “But you never know where an addiction might take you.” Names have been changed<doc-sep>
The tragic death of Mac Miller on Sept. 7, widely assumed to be from an overdose, has provoked a much-needed conversation about how our culture thinks and talks about addiction and recovery. It’s a conversation that was already happening following Demi Lovato’s overdose in July. And while the two incidents sparked largely supportive reactions, with the rap community and beyond spending the week mourning Miller's passing, the two incidents weren't without ugly social media comments and ill-intended media coverage. In one article, Lovato was blamed for "surrounding herself with enablers" before her overdose. And in the days after Miller's death, his ex-girlfriend, Ariana Grande, was hit with social media harassment blaming their breakup for his relapse, a claim perpetuated by some media coverage of his death that claimed his substance abuse issues became more challenging after their split. More:Mac Miller's friend says Ariana Grande 'was an unbelievably stabilizing force in his life' In Lovato's statement following her overdose, she described addiction as an "illness (that) is not something that disappears or fades with time." And in the aftermath of Miller's death, other facts about addiction deserve to be revisited, a reckoning that's essential for our society to better understand people recovering from addiction and to help others get the treatment they need. More:Remember Mac Miller's brilliance with these essential tracks Miller’s death was not a selfish act One of the most harmful beliefs surrounding addiction and suicide is that a person is “selfish” for dying from an overdose or intentionally taking their own life, with Miller fans taking to Reddit to bemoan online commenters calling his death a selfish act. Blaming him for his death incorrectly reduces addiction to an issue of personal willpower. In reality, addiction is a disease, exacerbated by a social climate that doesn’t adequately support recovery, from the stigma that “addicts” face to a general lack of mental health resources. Miller’s addiction and death are not Ariana Grande’s fault Miller isn’t the only one being blamed for his death. Ex-girlfriend Grande experienced a rush of harassment blaming her for his passing, prompting her to turn off her Instagram comments and go silent on social media for days after his death. As much pain as Miller’s family, friends and fans may be feeling after his death, directing that anger at Grande is unfair, perpetuating the myth that someone’s addiction-related death is the fault of their loved ones, who maybe could’ve saved them had they behaved differently. Grande has previously spoken about the shaming she’s received about Miller’s addiction and recovery, posting a lengthy statement in May in response to a fan’s tweet blaming her for Miller getting a DUI. “I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety and prayed for his balance for years,” she wrote. “But shaming/blaming women for a man’s inability to keep his (expletive) together is a very major problem … I will continue to pray from the bottom of my heart that he figures it all out and that any woman in this position does as well.” Grande’s statement gets at an important point, that there’s a temptation to blame the people surrounding someone who dies of addiction, particularly the women in their life, rather than offering compassion. More:Mac Miller's friend says Ariana Grande 'was an unbelievably stabilizing force in his life' Recovery shouldn't have to be a silent struggle Grande makes another important point in her statement, about the years she suffered in silence while supporting Miller as he battled his addiction, writing, “Of course I didn’t share how hard or scary it was while it was happening, but it was.” While drug use often shows up in the lyrics of rap and hip-hop songs, young stars often fight the disease of addiction in silence. Of course, stars aren’t obligated to go public about their struggles with drugs and alcohol, with many choosing to navigate their journeys of recovery in private. Yet treating addiction as a sinful taboo, rather than an issue that can be managed with treatment like any other serious disease, only makes it more difficult for people to seek the resources they need to recover. Following Miller’s death, multiple stars came forward with their own stories of addiction and sobriety. One of the most compelling tributes came from Macklemore, who, like Miller, has been open about his struggles with substance abuse, writing in an Instagram caption that he and Miller “shared the same disease.