The tragedy of the death of celebrity Liam Payne, a former member of the boy band One Direction, has just recently blown up all over social media. On October 16th around 1:00 PM EST, he was found deceased after he fell from the third floor of a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Right before Payne’s death, he “was carried to [his] hotel room before [the] fatal balcony fall” because of his concerning behavior in the hotel lobby. During an investigation after the tragic event, his hotel room was found to have drugs and alcohol. Prior to this, Liam had made the public aware of his struggles with addiction.
According to Argentinian police, a drug called clonazepam as well as an unknown white powder was discovered in his room. Clonazepam, if used properly, can relieve panic attacks and control seizures. However, fatal side effects can occur if the drug is abused. Some of these symptoms include: Confusion, drowsiness, suicidal behavior, slurred speech, hallucinations, etc. Although Payne’s cause of death has yet to be confirmed, news sources all over the world have speculated that he was under the influence of drugs before his death and that is what caused him to act out.
As unfortunate as Liam Payne’s death was, the theories surrounding the cause of his death, no matter how true or false, show how terrifying drugs and alcohol can be. Over 3 million deaths occur annually due to alcohol and drug use. Around 2.6 million of those deaths are due to alcohol, 4.7% of deaths worldwide and 0.6% of deaths are due to misuse of substances. Since 2020, deaths relating to drug overdose have declined by 10%, but that slight increase pales in comparison to the exponential increases in years before. Hundreds of thousands of deaths related to overdosing have increased continuously from 2018 to 2023, so a 10% drop within a year shouldn’t excite us. It does not mean that this declining pattern will continue.
Overdoses don’t always occur intentionally. Often, drug overdoses are accidental — that is what makes it so alarming. In North Carolina, a woman’s 5-year-old daughter was given an incorrect dose of the medication Quillivant XR. Instead of the dosage she was supposed to receive, which was 1 milliliter per day, she was prescribed a dosage of 5 milliliters per day. As a consequence of this careless error, her daughter was admitted into the emergency room because of the side effects. The mother stated, “My daughter is small for a 5-year-old. She’s more the weight of a 3- or 4-year old and this could have killed her because it’s a strong stimulant drug.” Side effects of the drug can be life threatening, especially to such a young child. Adverse side effects consist of appetite loss, increased blood pressure, anxiety, stomach pain, nausea, and so many more. Thankfully, her daughter survived. Nevertheless, the situation could’ve ended much worse.
Based on The Food and Drug Administration, over 100,000 reports are received annually regarding medication errors. Studies have shown that 7,000 to 9,000 people in the United States die from it every year. How can one even trust taking medication when they don’t know whether or not a healthcare professional will give them proper dosage? As mentioned earlier, the number of deaths caused by alcohol are even larger and more horrifying. 2.6 million deaths are related to alcohol consumption, if not caused by it. Roughly 724,000 deaths are from car crashes, self-harm, and violence against others. 284,000 deaths are from drinking alcohol, as it increases the risk of contracting diseases such as HIV and TB. Not only can overconsumption of alcohol set you up to contract illnesses more easily and weaken your immune system, it can also cause sudden behavior issues. Alcohol intoxication can cause one to become violent, have unstable moods, and hallucinations.
In 2023, a 22-year-old named Callum lost his Dad to alcohol intoxication. He shared his heartbreaking story online and wrote, “The last time I spoke with my Dad, he didn’t even know who I was, and he was afraid that animals were going to eat him. Alcohol dependence is a disease, and I wouldn’t wish anyone to see the things I saw. Alcohol misuse is the reason that I don’t have a father, didn’t have a Christmas, and will never be the same again.” Evidently, alcoholism is terrifying. It can take away your most loved ones, and even if they don’t die from it, they will fall ill nine times out of ten.
Many people drink as a way to celebrate. They drink when they’re upset, or even when they’re happy. But people also use drugs as a way of escapism when they’re upset and feel completely alone. The toll that drugs and alcohol can have on a single person is absolutely petrifying and isn’t talked about enough, no matter how many articles are published about it, no matter how much data is out there. Liam Payne’s death has affected millions of people all over the world. He was loved by so many – his friends, family, and fans. Unfortunately, there is nothing more we can do about those who have already been affected by drug and alcohol overdoses, but we can prevent others from doing the same heartbreaking thing that may seal their fate. Will deaths caused by drugs and alcohol ever stop? Probably not. Will people stop consuming them? Probably not. Although we may never be able to stop the consumption of alcohol and misuse of drugs, we can slow it. All we can do is attempt to spread awareness and warnings to be cautious. And then we hope.
SOURCES:
– Bendix , A., & Brogle , C. (2024, February 6). North Carolina Mom says pharmacy gave her 5-year-old too-high dosage of ADHD medication. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/north-carolina-mom-says-pharmacy-gave-5-year-old-high-dosage-adhd-medi-rcna137290
– Callahan, C. (2024, October 17). Liam Payne dies at 31: What he shared about struggle with addiction and mental health. TODAY.com. https://www.today.com/health/liam-payne-addiction-rcna175910
– Callum. (2023, February). Callum’s story: I lost my dad to alcohol. Alcohol Change UK. https://alcoholchange.org.uk/story/callums-story-i-lost-my-dad-to-alcohol
– Haworth, J. (2024, October 18). 2 substances, broken objects found in Liam Payne’s hotel room: Police. Good Morning America. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/manager-liam-paynes-hotel-pleaded-authorities-send-urgency-114890259
– Liam Payne was under the influence of psychotic and hallucination drugs when he died. The Economic Times. (n.d.). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/liam-payne-was-under-the-influence-of-psychotic-and-hallucination-drugs-when-he-died/articleshow/114378589.cms?from=mdr
– Mann, B. (2024, September 18). NPR exclusive: U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/18/nx-s1-5107417/overdose-fatal-fentanyl-death-opioid#:~:text=Roughly%20100%2C000%20deaths%20are%20still,are%20more%20poisonous%20than%20ever
– Martinez, G. (2024, October 17). Inside Liam Payne’s addiction and mental health battle during rise to Fame. The Mirror US. https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/inside-liam-paynes-life-addiction-753204
– Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (n.d.). Clonazepam (oral route). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clonazepam-oral-route/description/drg-20072102
– McKenith, D. (2024, February 5). Mount Airy mother says Walgreens gave medication dosage 5x too strong for 5-year-old daughter. WXII. https://www.wxii12.com/article/north-carolina-mount-airy-mother-walgreens-prescribed-medication-dosage-5x-strong-daughter/46633795
– Tariq, R. A. (2024, February 12). Medication dispensing errors and prevention. U.S. Nation Library Of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519065/
– Villa, L. (2024, September 9). Clonazepam overdose symptoms, signs & treatment. American Addiction Centers. https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/klonopin/clonazepam-overdose/
– World Health Organization. (2024, June 24). Over 3 million annual deaths due to alcohol and drug use, majority among men. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/25-06-2024-over-3-million-annual-deaths-due-to-alcohol-and-drug-use-majority-among-men
