# 1 b.

Why now?

As a Baby Boomer, born in the 1940s, my generation was too young to identify with Jack Kerouac and his death (1922-1969) resulting from prolonged abuse of the licit substance known as alcohol (ethyl alcohol).  But Boomers have observed the years record the following pop deaths, resulting from choices made by adults and involving licit and illicit substances, beginning in 1970:

Janis Joplin (1943-1970) Heroin and Alcohol

Jimi Hendricks (1942-1970) Barbiturates

Jim Morrison (1943-1971) Heroin and Alcohol

John Belushi (1949-1982) Cocaine and Heroin

Len Bias (1963-1986)  Cocaine (provided by a friend the day Boston Celtics contract inked)
Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Propofol and Benzodiazepine

Whitney Houston (1963-2012) Cocaine

Bobby Kristina Brown (1993-2015) Marijuana, Alcohol, Cocaine and Morphine (the metabolite of Heroin)

Prince (1958-2016) Fentanyl Overdose

When these pop stars and musicians are joined by other general Americans who have also made adult, fatal decisions (below), I have concluded that straight talking and scientific proof regarding licit and illicit substances needs to be disseminated in order that more wise decisions can be made, fewer fatal decisions will be made and fewer deaths will occur.

Adult (sic) Eighteen-year-old Logan Stiner of LaGrange, Ohio, died in May after consuming it. The coroner's report said Stiner suffered cardiac arrythmia -- irregular heartbeat -- and a seizure, and was found to have more 70 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of blood in his system, CBS Cleveland reported.  (caffeine substance abuse of a licit substance) http://www.cbsnews.com/news/powdered-caffeine-death-fda-legal-action/

Nicotine poisoning           

Nicotine is a bitter-tasting compound that naturally occurs in large amounts in the leaves of tobacco plants.  Nicotine poisoning results from too much nicotine. Acute nicotine poisoning usually occurs in young children who accidentally chew on nicotine gum or patches.  https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002510.htm

By Annie Gowen April 16, 1999 Follow @anniegowen

The man and woman found dead in their Mechanicsville bedroom Wednesday were wearing clear respiratory masks over their noses and mouths that led to large canisters of nitrous oxide, the St. Mary's County sheriff's office said yesterday.

Police said the bodies of Carol J. Smith, 29, and Mark A. Trowbridge, 40, a paramedic for the D.C. fire department, were found lying lifeless in bed Wednesday afternoon when Trowbridge's 14-year-old son arrived home from school.

Although the cause of death had not been confirmed, police said the pair may have overdosed accidentally while using the gas to produce a euphoric high. One drug expert suggested they may have passed out with the masks on and continued to inhale the nitrous oxide until they suffocated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/04/16/accidental-overdose-suspected/75a9bac5-b9be-42cc-af11-96015c58bd8d/

Note: Adult substance abusers who commit suicide by any means having nothing to do with the particular substance(s) they abuse, have their autopsies and death certificates accurately and scientifically reflect the true cause of death. 

Children and adults across America continue to make Fatal decisions.  By informing as many adults and youth as possible, the effort of this Blog can find success if only one death is averted.

Next Post:  Why the emphasis on the word adult and let's discuss the legal concepts of licit vs illicit.