farand dwarfism: Whitney Houston Died From Drowning, Cocaine Use

Friday, March 23, 2012

Whitney Houston Died From Drowning, Cocaine Use

Heart disease also contributed to singer's death last month.
By Nadeska Alexis

Whitney Houston in 1995
Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images

Whitney Houston died in a Beverley Hills hotel room in early February, and more than a month after the news of her death shocked fans across the world, an official coroner's report has been released, pinpointing the singer's cause of death.

The L.A. County coroner revealed that accidental drowning was the official cause of Houston's death, adding that cocaine use and heart disease were also contributing factors. According to the report, traces of cocaine were found in Houston's system at the time of death along with Xanax, Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, which officials said played no role in her death.

No cocaine was found in the singer's room when she died, but coroner spokesman Craig Harvey noted that cocaine metabolites were found in her system, leading them to conclude that Houston was a chronic user of the drug. A number of prescription pills were recovered in the Beverly Hills hotel room, but officials from the coroner's office said there wasn't an unusual amount of medication.

Houston, who died at age 48, was laid to rest in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, during an invite-only funeral service at the New Hope Baptist Church on February 18. Attendees included Stevie Wonder, Clive Davis and CeCe Winans, and the funeral was broadcast live so fans could tune in. The legendary singer leaves behind her only child, 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, who inherited all the possessions in her will.

Whitney Houston's death came just one day before the 54th Grammys Awards, and she was remembered with a moving tribute led by Jennifer Hudson, who sang the hit single "I Will Always Love You" from the "Bodyguard" soundtrack.

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