Notable Black People Who Have Died From Drug Overdoses

Rapper Rich Homie Quan pictured at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

UPDATED: 5:00 p.m. ET, Sept. 5

Rapper Rich Homie Quan’s unexpected death has been unofficially attributed to a drug overdose, with reports on social media claiming the 34-year-old succumbed to a mixture of Percocets and fentanyl.

While the official cause of death for the man born Dequantes Lamar was not immediately confirmed, the term “overdose” became a top trending topic on X, formerly Twitter, amid an outpouring of condolences.

The report of Rich Homie Quan’s death placed a spotlight on notable Black people who have died from drug overdoses.

A social media fan account for the rapper Young Thug, with whom Rich Homie Quan frequently collaborated, seemingly first posted the news that it was “Hearing Rich Homie Quan passed away today due to a possible OD….”

Hearing Rich Homie Quan passed away today due to a possible OD….

Please don't be true.

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) September 5, 2024

Shortly afterward, Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz posted that he “JUST GOT WORD @RichHomieQuan JUST OD.”

Minutes later, R&B singer Jacquees, another artist who has collaborated with Rich Homie Quan, confirmed the death but not its cause.

Rest in Peace my brother Rich Homie Quan. I love you for Life. #Richgang

— King Of R&B (@Jacquees) September 5, 2024

MORE: Why Are People Lacing Cocaine With Fentanyl And How Dangerous Is It?

Throughout history, drug addictions have plagued the lives of so many celebrities. Drugs have always been a part of celebrity culture. Actors, singers, politicians, even social media influencers have all abused drugs, which has led to the deaths of some of our favorite celebrities. Imagine being poor, then one day you wake up with access to millions of dollars.

Your fame and fortune can get you whatever you want, including drugs. For many Americans, a drug habit can set you back financially, but not celebrities. They have access to substances the average person can’t get their hands on. Many entertainers feel the only way to escape is to numb their world by heavy drug use, which, many times, can lead to drug overdoses. Highly addictive substances like heroin and cocaine have been drugs of choice by celebrities for decades. They also happen to be the most lethal.

Cocaine, which is also known as the “party drug” is especially very popular among entertainers. Although not as lethal as the opioids, it is extremely addictive. Since it can be mixed with an opioid like fentanyl and go undetected, some celebrities have been unintentionally taking the opioid and overdosing by accident.

Comedian Fuquan Johnson was one of two people who overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl at a party in Los Angeles on Sept. 2, 2021. A third person survived the overdose. Johnson’s death sparked widespread concern in the broader entertainment industry that more celebrities could be at risk of the same fate because so many of them use cocaine from possibly the same source.

On top of that, actor Michael K. Williams‘ overdose death in his Brooklyn penthouse on Sept. 6, 2021, was also attributed to fentanyl that was used to lace heroin. Even though Williams’ admitted fight with drug addiction was well documented, his death still caught people off guard.

To be sure, drug overdoses aren’t a new phenomenon to entertainers. Michael Jackson and Prince both overdosed on opioids, but they are far from the only ones who died in that or a similar manner.

Keep reading to find a running list (that we, hopefully, won’t need to update too often) of notable Black people who died following drug overdoses.

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The post Notable Black People Who Have Died From Drug Overdoses appeared first on NewsOne.

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