Did Peaches Geldof Die of an Overdose?

Peaches Geldof, a young British celebrity and daughter of Bob Geldof – of Pink Floyd’s The Wall fame – was found dead in her home Sunday afternoon.

I first came across the story the following day when a Buzzfeed article popped up in my Facebook news feed. And, I have to admit that my first thought was that her untimely death was drug-related. Given that she was so young, was a celebrity, and had a history of substance abuse, it seemed the logical explanation.

Initial articles reported that the death was being treated “as an unexplained and sudden death” and that “officers are working to establish the circumstances around the death.” Reports did say, however, that they considered her passing to be “non-suspicious.”

Autopsy Report

A post-mortem autopsy was performed a couple of days later. And if family, friends, and fans were looking for some kind of resolution, the report would fail to deliver. Following the procedure, the report was released and stated that the findings were “inconclusive.” And it can take weeks for toxicology results, which might shed some light on the star’s cause of death. No drugs or suicide note were found upon discovering the body however, police are still searching Peaches’ home for any possible evidence.

Past (and Present?) Drug Abuse

Growing up in public’s spotlight, which has proven time and time again to lead some child stars down similarly tragic paths, Britain’s press reveled in then teenaged Peaches’ late-night antics. There is past knowledge of a drug problem around this time and she had referred to her more youthful self as a “wild child.”

It’s noteworthy to mention that her mother, a celebrity, also struggled with drugs, dying from an accidental heroin overdose when Peaches was 11.

In the latest article, a close friend relates Peaches’ ongoing issues with drugs. Jonny Makeup, whose real name is Jon Henry Szymanski, told The Sun newspaper that fellow recovering addict and long-time friend, Peaches Geldof “struggled” with her sobriety.

Jonny went on to describe Peaches as “courageous” when describing her battle with drugs. “Being a recovering addict myself, I know she struggled to be and stay clean – like all of us with addictions do.” He was careful to add, “I don’t know if this had anything to do with her death,” as cause of death still remains unclear, “But I just hope she was at peace.”

Prior Health Problems

There is a record of previous health concerns plaguing the young celebrity, namely an eating disorder and the subsequent toll it was taking on her body. Images of Peaches reveal a beautiful, yet gaunt woman which has led to much discussion about a possible cause of death being related to an eating disorder.

In a previously unpublished interview, Peaches revealed that doctors warned her she needed to drastically change her diet and eating habits because she was at risk of health problems.

In 2011, Peaches said, “I had [high] cholesterol and the doctors said stop eating sh*t. So I did,” adding, If you stop eating pizza and chips you then don’t look like you used to,” perhaps as a way of justifying her dwindling figure.

“I used to eat sh*t every single day. I used to wake up with my boyfriend and eat crap. I had the heart of a 90-year-old gangster.”

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A contributor for Mother and Baby magazine, Peaches’ wrote in her last column, which was published posthumously Tuesday with permission from the Geldof family, that she was “happier than ever.”

She wrote that having “two beautiful babies who loved me more than anything. It was, and is, bliss. Right now life is good. And being a mum is the best part of it.”

Ironic or just eerie timing, Peaches’ last post to her Twitter account, on 6 April, was a photograph of herself as a baby in her mother’s arms.

Rocker husband, Thomas Cohen made a statement on behalf of their two sons, Astala (23 months) and Phaedra (11 moths): “My beloved wife Peaches was adored by myself and her two sons Astala and Phaedra and I shall bring them up with their mother in their hearts every day. We shall love her forever.”

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance addiction or an eating disorder, please call toll-free 1-800-777-9588.

Sources:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/peaches-geldof-has-died-aged-25?bffb

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1013973

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1012495

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20804752,00.html