Heroin? Methadone? Separating fact from fiction about Demi Lovato's overdose
Demi Lovato is currently recovering, with her family by her side, after Tuesday’s apparent drug overdose. The 25-year-old singer was rushed to the hospital for a “medical emergency,” but was stable and resting after the terrifying incident.
A rep for the actress said the “Sober” singer was “awake,” adding, “Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.”
Despite the family’s wishes, there have been tons of reports out there conjecturing about the circumstances that led to the singer’s overdose. Here’s what we know — and don’t — about the emergency.
Friends feared this would happen.
Multiple sources close to the singer tell Yahoo Entertainment they were terrified this day would come.
“I’ve been dreading getting the inevitable call” that Lovato overdosed, one insider says. “She’s been on a bad path for months, and it seemed like this is where it would end up. I’m just so grateful the outcome was this and not worse.”
A second source says those close to Lovato became more concerned about her health in “recent weeks,” adding, “Anyone who was around six, seven years ago remembers the signs well. Things were going in a bad direction again.” The insider adds, “We are all hoping this is the wake-up call she needed.”
Was it heroin, methadone, or neither?
TMZ, which broke the story, cited law enforcement sources who said Lovato overdosed from heroin. However, an insider close to the singer emphatically denies that the overdose was caused by heroin. According to dispatch audio obtained by TMZ, Lovato was unconscious, and the site reports that she was revived with Narcan, a drug that can treat a narcotic overdose in an emergency situation. Us Weekly also reported that friends saved her life when they administered the prescription.
The Blast claims that a nurse told police in an incident report that Lovato, 25, was using some type of methamphetamine, but was not sure how the substance was being used. However, meth wouldn’t explain why Lovato was unconscious or why she had to be given Narcan — if she indeed was.
Both outlets allege that Lovato wouldn’t name the drug when questioned by police, and sources close to her aren’t talking. The singer has been candid about battling alcohol, cocaine, and OxyContin addictions. OxyContin can lead to overdoses that can also be treated with Narcan. Lovato has always been incredibly open about her sobriety journey — and she’s never mentioned heroin — so perhaps we’ll hear straight from her when she’s ready to talk about it.
Demi had an all-night party at her house before the incident.
The singer was out celebrating a friend’s birthday in West Hollywood on Monday night, and TMZ reports, citing law enforcement sources, that the party kept going at her house. Sources told the outlet Locato had had an all-night rager, but that when cops showed up, partygoers were nowhere to be found. Members of Lovato’s team were present when cops arrived, TMZ reported, but no one was talking about what went down.
The Blast also cites law enforcement sources who say they were unable to I.D. possible drug remnants, nor were they sure if there was enough to be collected for analysis. Evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia were photographed and documented by cops.
Demi is not under criminal investigation.
Although police found evidence of illegal drug use, the LAPD says the singer is not under criminal investigation, since no drugs were found. The fact that officers responded to a call for medical attention, not illegal activity, also factored into their decision, according to the Blast.
Is rehab the singer’s next stop?
The singer’s family and friends want Lovato to return to rehab, sources tell Yahoo. The Camp Rock star has been twice before, in 2010 and 2012. Entertainment Tonight reports that her family is already making arrangements for the star to go back into treatment.
“Her family is going to do everything in their power to help get Demi back on track and are making plans to get her straight into rehab,” a source tells ET. “She is a fighter and has beat this in the past, so they know she can live a clean and sober life again. Her mother is by her side.”
The insider continues, “This is a very serious matter, and it seems like most of the people who witnessed her drug use and/or participated are now nowhere to be seen. She was dating someone who her family didn’t approve of and they wanted her to stay far away from him, but she believes she can make her own decisions about who she hangs out with and who she dates.
“She was not partying alone,” the source adds. “Her family and friends, who weren’t involved, fear she’s been hanging with people who support her drug habit. It is an incredibly dangerous situation for her. She needs a clean, safe place to heal, and that is their top priority. The immediate plan is to get her the help that she so desperately needs.”
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