It Was Drugs!

12/18/2007 2:31 PM ET | Filed under: Drugs

The toxicology results are in and Hawthorne Heights guitarist Casey Calvert died of a drug overdose, a medical examiner has revealed.

At the time of Calvert's death, Hawthorne Heights released a statement saying, "We can say with absolute certainty that he was not doing anything illegal."

His death has now been ruled an accident caused by the combined effects of opiates and the antidepressant citalopram and the anti-anxiety medication clonozepam.

[Image via WENN.]

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279 comments to “It Was Drugs!”

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WTF says – reply to this

1

Isnt that the same weird mix that killed Anna Nicole's son?
kzi says – reply to this

2

holy shizzz
srsly a shocker
heatherhoney says – reply to this

3

FIRST!!!!
lalaurie says – reply to this

4

TOLD YOU SO……..LOOK AT HIS EYES IN THE PHOTO, I WOULD HAVE BET THAT HE WAS SMOKIN METH……..
P.S. NEVER SAY NEVER, CUZ YAH NEVER KNOW!!!!
bebe says – reply to this

5

not suprised
hate says – reply to this

6

wtf?
lindsey says – reply to this

7

Drugs, wow who would've thought??? DUH.
Salindil says – reply to this

8

Fucking emo….good riddence
lindsey says – reply to this

9

Drugs, wow who would've thought??? DUH.
Christina says – reply to this

10

That sucks.
Jess says – reply to this

11

sad
I heart the meds says – reply to this

12

FYI- it's clonAzepam, and it's great!
josie says – reply to this

13

sad
Amber says – reply to this

14

he was using antidepressants for depression, and vicodin for root canal surgery. i fucking hate speculation that is so negative. show some respect.
VJ says – reply to this

15

dont do drugs
Paige says – reply to this

16

The opiates thing is bad, but the combo of the citalopram and clonozepam is pretty regular, my brother has been on that combo for years for his issues.
GOD says – reply to this

17

but of course
bananagirl says – reply to this

18

1st!
GOD says – reply to this

19

que pex
tess says – reply to this

20

WOWOWOW

i so knew it
Kari says – reply to this

21

Well, they were only trying to protect their friend. I don't blame them for saying that they did at the time. So sad!
natalie says – reply to this

22

god bless him
RIP
gillianfg says – reply to this

23

Okay, well, that's NOT illegal
tammy says – reply to this

24

That is so sad.
Kali says – reply to this

25

Those drugs are not illegal if taken by prescription.
Homer says – reply to this

26

D'oh
christine says – reply to this

27

umm they said nothing illegal. HIS DRUGS WERE LEGAL. why are you always trying to twist stories for drama, perez? PATHETIC!!!!
denver says – reply to this

28

1st! I knew it
Bron says – reply to this

29

HAHA
LOL says – reply to this

30

PPl are so dependent on Rx drugs…that is so stupid.
susan says – reply to this

31

Well then the band was right — he wasn't doing anything illegal. He was taking drugs as prescribed. How is that his fault?
Rachel says – reply to this

32

That's some serious stuff!
kirk says – reply to this

33

Eh, whoever he is, he's worm food now.
amy says – reply to this

34

Either way it is sad for some one's life to be cut short like that.
A says – reply to this

35

he was using an opiate (vicodin) because he had just had a root canal before leaving for tour. he died on the 2nd day of tour. he had every reason to be using all of those medications. legally.
your irresponsible journalism and blatant disrespect to the friends and family (not to mention the fans) of someone who has passed away make me utterly sick.
labeautevraie says – reply to this

36

Well their statement wasn't wrong - it wasn't anything illegal. *shrug*
ty says – reply to this

37

Lol who cares
John says – reply to this

38

i knew it!
crystal says – reply to this

39

If you read the report it says that these were prescription drugs. Therefore it was now illegal. Keep it honest.
Allison says – reply to this

40

How is this a SHOCKER to anyone?? He was in a band, most band members do some sort of drugs. Also, look at the dudes eyes, if he wasnt on something when this pic was taken, something medical was wrong with him, no ones eyes are like that normally.
crystal says – reply to this

41

If you read the report it says that these were prescription drugs. Therefore it was not illegal. Keep it honest.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? says – reply to this

42

MAKING SMUG LITTLE REMARKS IN REFERENCE TO A HUMAN BEING'S DEATH?
DO YOU REJOICE IN THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIVES?
SICK BASTARD.
KARMA'S A BITCH…PEOPLE WILL PAY YOU THE SAME RESPECT WHEN YOU INEVITABLY DIE EARLY OF SOME WEIGHT-RELATED ISSUE.
Kosher Kitty says – reply to this

43

Vicodin and Celexa and Klonopin…oh emo. Funny how they first threw out that it was maybe asthma related.
Tara says – reply to this

44

I am on Both those meds(clonazepam and citalpram aka cipralex) and have been for yrs. Nothing wrong if taken properly.
brendan says – reply to this

45

perez! he's your twin! ugly and too wasted to realize it!
kzi says – reply to this

46

EVERYONE STFU
READ THIS:::
From the time of the incident we suspected a possible drug interaction as the cause. Casey wrestled with depression for as long as we knew him. He saw numerous doctors and took an ever-changing array of medicines to get better. He finally had his depression under control. According to the toxicology report, the cause of death was due to a fatal interaction between depression meds, anxiety meds and an opiate. Opiates being mentioned along with the term "substance abuse", coupled with "rockstar" stereotypes immediately conjure up images of hard drug use and addiction, which simply couldn't be further from the truth in Casey's instance. What the toxicology report doesn't show is that prior to us leaving for tour, Casey had a root canal, and was prescribed Vicodin (an opiate) for the pain. Once again, Casey was not involved in anything illegal nor was he a substance abuser. Please be respectful as we search for more answers to these newly raised questions and deal with this news. Thank you, Eron
theVoiceOfReason says – reply to this

47

RIP Calvert.
kzi says – reply to this

48

Re: Allison – suck mah dick
From the time of the incident we suspected a possible drug interaction as the cause. Casey wrestled with depression for as long as we knew him. He saw numerous doctors and took an ever-changing array of medicines to get better. He finally had his depression under control. According to the toxicology report, the cause of death was due to a fatal interaction between depression meds, anxiety meds and an opiate. Opiates being mentioned along with the term "substance abuse", coupled with "rockstar" stereotypes immediately conjure up images of hard drug use and addiction, which simply couldn't be further from the truth in Casey's instance. What the toxicology report doesn't show is that prior to us leaving for tour, Casey had a root canal, and was prescribed Vicodin (an opiate) for the pain. Once again, Casey was not involved in anything illegal nor was he a substance abuser. Please be respectful as we search for more answers to these newly raised questions and deal with this news. Thank you, Eron
ousslander says – reply to this

49

who the hell cares? Nobody has ever heard of this guy or hi band, except maybe the twenty people on here. please stop pushing these nobodies on us.
anon says – reply to this

50

ok i bet his dumb fuck management feels ridiculous for releasing that statement…
Ella says – reply to this

51

What a shame!
Lor says – reply to this

52

Sounds similar to the cocktail Anna Nicole Smith's son died from.
SKANK BURRITO says – reply to this

53

I WOULD KILL MYSELF TOO IF I LOOKED LIKE THIS AND PLAYED IN SUCH A SHITTY BAND
Marcella says – reply to this

54

GOD I HATE DRUGS!
Perez please dont die on us~!
hfhfhfh says – reply to this

55

"To be honest, it just may [have been] bad luck. … It's exceedingly rare that 26-years-olds die of anything medical. This kind of death is one in several million."

the guy was depressed and using prescribed medicine. he died. stop making him out to be some heroin addict and learn some respect.
Kristen says – reply to this

56

I think half of these fucktards are mistaking "opiate" for "opium." Learn how to read properly, dumbasses.
Lor says – reply to this

57

I am sorry for your loss, but, if you are looking for respect from the majority of nitwits posting here you will be sorely disappointed. Stay strong.
STFU says – reply to this

58

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIE A YEAR FROM MIXING LEGAL DRUGS. THE POINT IS, WHETHER LEGAL OR NOT, MIXING DRUGS IS ALWAYS A BAD IDEA. CASE PROVEN. NOW STFU.
missmay says – reply to this

59

sad.
M says – reply to this

60

All drugs in his system were legally perscribed to him. His body reacted to his depression medications (that he's been taken for years) to the ones he was just assigned prior to the tour for his root canal - it was an unintentional accidental overdose with his body having a negative reaction to the combination.

To those who comment "He's in a band, duh!" Legal medication. Not illegal substances. This isn't the 80's anymore- not every band in today's market is doing hard, illegal drugs like they were 20 years ago. I've worked in the section of the music industry that Casey's own band is targeted in and I could tell you only about 15 out of hundreds of musicians who do hard illegal drugs like the stereotypical rock star is supposedly doing. Yes, a bigger handful use pot / alcohol, but a good chuck today do no illegal drugs at all - Casey's band being one of them.
Melissa says – reply to this

61

Wow what a surprise and a shame! He was a talented guitarist. Rumor has it that he just had oral surgery and had been taking an anti depressant and anti anxiety meds for a while. He was supposedly prescribed a painkiller on top of that from his surgery. HH is not the type of band that gets all f'ed up after a show and parties like rockstars. Yeah they're emo, so what. It's good f'ing music and the loss of this guitarist is very sad.
Jim says – reply to this

62

The drugs were all prescribed. The "opiate" was Vicodin, which was taken because of a root canal. The other two were for his seizure problems and his depression (duh on the depression). Poor guy.
bree says – reply to this

63

can some1 name 1 track from them please?…thanx in advance
jen says – reply to this

64

his wife should be suing the doctor that prescribed him a pill that would react badly with his prescriptions. due to the irresponsibility of his doctor, he's now dead. way to go.

usually i like reading your shit, perez, but this guy was NOT a junkie. not every person in a touring band is "party all the time."
Gabi says – reply to this

65

Yeah…go ahead people keep thinking that taking drugs is cool. You'll be cool alright.. in a cold grave. Next time someone offers you drugs. think about yourself, family, future, everything you will miss out on if you get hooked on this stuff. CHOOSE LIFE!!!! Such a waste of a talented guy who I bet all his life wanted to be a famous guitarist, just to lead to this. Why?
j` says – reply to this

66

fucking loser, rot in peace dickhead, how many times must people tell you to stay away from drugs
slayerbitch says – reply to this

67

Opiates could be either heroin, codine, morphine, or methadone. So kids, we all know not to mix our opiates with our antidepressants.
agh says – reply to this

68

ok you all can stop blaming the "root canal" for why he was taking prescription drugs. he was probably getting high off of them.
kypre says – reply to this

69

yeah, clonazepam will do that. really not smart to mix it with dope. you're just asking to OD, if you do.
kypre says – reply to this

70

oh, and clonazepam is bad stuff. it fucks you up pretty bad.

i find it funny that someone here would say he was taking it for his seizures. clonazepam actually CAUSES seizures if you use it for a prolonged time and then try to stop cold turkey.
Kristen says – reply to this

71

Re: Gabi –

That's why we should all just smoke pot. Our problems would be friggin solved…… Not really, but we should still smoke pot.
Mutti says – reply to this

72

Am I supposed to know who this person is?
lvwtsn says – reply to this

73

None of that means he died of illegal drugs,do you have to be such a drama queen all the time??All his meds were probably legally prescribed to him for various emotional and physical complaints, poly drug use and lack of follow up by physicians and pharmacist is most likely more the result of his death!Give the kid a break and his family and friends,fans…people in pain,emotional or physical just want it to go away, and accidental deaths do happen as a result.Don't paint the young man as a junky and jump up and down on his grave.
kypre says – reply to this

74

slayerbitch,

methadone is NOT an opiate. it is an opioid. educate yourself before spouting off, dumbass.
roxxxiebrown says – reply to this

75

The opiate involve was vicodin from his dentist taht was prescribed due to an oral surgery a couple days before the tour. It was from the mixture, not an overdose. Everything in his system was prescribed.
tiff says – reply to this

76

methamphetatmine salts (same base drug and potential for abuse and overdose) are prescribed for ADD and other disorders.
Therefore, it is possible that it was accidental as well as prescribed medication.
This is unfortunate.
jmk says – reply to this

77

These seem to be prescription drugs, not street drugs. I'd bet he has a prescription for all of them - it doesn't sound like he was an 'abuser'. How sad.
lily says – reply to this

78

Casey was an amazing musician. That's how he should be, and will be remembered, by his family, his friends and his fans. Even if you people haven't heard of his band or know who he is.. that doesn't mean you have the right to say these things about someone, especially after they've passed on. The way some people are talking about him on here is insane. Show some respect. Some of you people are so ignorant.
frances says – reply to this

79

thank you, amber. thank you very much! read up on your shiz perez! i love your stuff, but wow… educate yourself before you make someone look like a junky.

"It Was Drugs!"

no…

"Your an asshole, Perez!"
kypre says – reply to this

80

just because something was prescribed, doesn't mean it's not a "real" drug and the guy wasn't potentially abusing it.

that's why in my city- with one of the worst concentrations of junkies in north america- you are unable to walk into any medical clinic and get a script for vicodin, benzodiazepines (clonazepam being one), or anything else that you can get high off of.

benzos are worse than heroin, people. doesn't mean they're any less addictive or dangerous just because a doctor prescribed them. and are you all completely unaware of the rise in shady, over-prescribing doctors in america?? they are nothing more than professional dealers. wake up.
Alexis says – reply to this

81

I don't know who he is, but I'm sorry he died.

Can we remember him by a better photo, though? Seriously, he looks mental.
natalie says – reply to this

82

if he OVERDOSED then he was an ADDICT. how is that a mistake? the only mistake was him being irresponsible with his drug habit. You dont OD on a small combo of the 3…he had to be abusing them all together to such a point that the mix caused his heart rate to drop down so slow that it stopped beating. end of story.
ha HA HA says – reply to this

83

what a moron
sucky band too!
they're a bunch of little queer bates
he was doing NOTHING illegal says – reply to this

84

Casey had been battling depression for years. He was taking citalopram and clonazepam for depression and anxiety. The opiates came from vicodin that he was prescribed because of a recent root canal. This combination can be deadly if you take a couple of vicodins too many.

He was doing nothing illegal.
natalie says – reply to this

85

his doctors knew he was on all 3 so it had to be his ADDICTION that killed him. He must have been abusing for quite some time. his doctors woulnt have had him on all 3 meds if it could kill him. he must have had large amounts of all 3. His orthodontist was required to ask if he was on any other meds….
Bren says – reply to this

86

It is spelled Clonazepam, otherwise known as Klonopin
Ciara says – reply to this

87

Re: Amber –
I totally agree. show some respect… he was still an amazing guy. i feel bad for his wife.
Casey forever... says – reply to this

88

Re: bree – Ohio is for Lovers

Probably their most popular. You can hear Casey in it (he's the screamist).
LuLu says – reply to this

89

The sole clinical indications for opioids in the United States, according to Drug Facts and Comparisons, 2005, are

Analgesia and anesthesia
Cough (codeine and hydrocodone only)
Diarrhoea (generally loperamide or diphenoxylate, but laudanum or morphine may be used in some cases of severe diarrheal diseases)
Anxiety due to shortness of breath (oxymorphone only)
Detoxification (methadone and buprenorphine only)

which citalopram, and clonozepam both have side affects of, and from other comments i pick up that he needed it for a root canal.

so he had anxiety problems, and was just trying to work things out in his own head. let him alone. hes gone, and has no reason for the things that were particular asked not be spoken of talked about. you should have some respect for his family, friends, and let certian things rest.death is far from a joke. the people that loved him can't get him back, and you're not making things easier on them putting ideas in peoples heads. he was a musician, there are people who would like to remember him the way they knew he was and not by lies! he wasn't doing anything he shouldnt have! or others wouldnt have done if told by a doctor!

i can only leave you with a thought, what are people going to say when you pass?
eve says – reply to this

90

omg i didnt even know he died fuck man!! hawthorne heights is one of my fav bands
:(
Stefano says – reply to this

91

From AbsolutePunk.net

'Eron Bucciarelli from Hawthorne Heights has sent us a message about Casey Calvert's autopsy. Read it below.
Eron SpeaksFrom the time of the incident we suspected a possible drug interaction as the cause. Casey wrestled with depression for as long as we knew him. He saw numerous doctors and took an ever-changing array of medicines to get better. He finally had his depression under control. According to the toxicology report, the cause of death was due to a fatal interaction between depression meds, anxiety meds and an opiate. Opiates being mentioned along with the term "substance abuse", coupled with "rockstar" stereotypes immediately conjure up images of hard drug use and addiction, which simply couldn't be further from the truth in Casey's instance. What the toxicology report doesn't show is that prior to us leaving for tour, Casey had a root canal, and was prescribed Vicodin (an opiate) for the pain. Once again, Casey was not involved in anything illegal nor was he a substance abuser. Please be respectful as we search for more answers to these newly raised questions and deal with this news.

Thank you,
Eron'
Clare says – reply to this

92

Another sad death from opiate dependency. If we keep sending patients to rehab to treat a medical chemical imbalance they will keep dying. Doctors should be treating this disease not another patient……www.opiates.com
chrystal says – reply to this

93

right before their tour, he had a root canal and was prescribed vicodin. the effects of combining vicodin and his anti-depressant drugs caused his death.

it's not that he was a drug addict or anything. please respect him and his family.
Laura says – reply to this

94

either way.
it sucks.

i'd like to believe the band
but..
Viva Perez says – reply to this

95

what a dumb ass! ok look it would be like me taking my valume with my ambien what a douche! he wouldn't be dead if he hadn't mixed certain drugs together! even I KNOW THAT!
sorry he's dead! but death comes to dumbasses when they mix drugs its always been the rule of thumb! just cause ur a Rock star doesn't mean ur above Overdose! Dumb asss!
Rest in Peace
Melyssa says – reply to this

96

Geezus, most of you are so full of hate and rage, that I can't just pick one of you ignorant people to reply to, so I'll do a blanket comment. First of all, This used to be fun, reading all the gossip and the funny stuff people had to say. I'd like to thank most of you for ruining it for me, with your nasty hateful comments. It's funny when so an so is doing something crazy, or they've done something cute and camera worthy. I always enjoy good banter, however when you say good, you're glad someone died, that's where I find it not so funny anymore. This person was someones child, possible brother or husband, father etc, and his life meant something to people outside of Perez.com. To stereotype him as a drug user because he's in a band , is both ignorant, and unjustified. Not all bands do drugs. Yes being in a band, or in any public career is something people choose to do, but that doesn't mean they are no longer people. That doesn't mean they deserve a lot of the shit they get bestowed upon them. Depression is a very serious illness, and one that shouldn't be dismissed as They just don't want to be happy. All of the drugs he was on, were prescribed by a doctor, to enhance his quality of life. He wasn't hitting up a dealer to get high. Really people, are you really that heartless?
Justina says – reply to this

97

WHOA WHOA WHOA HOLLLD UP. casey didnt SMOKE AAAANYTHING. he was taking antidepressants and some other medication for some root canal. SHOW SOME FUCKING RESPECT. HE WASNT DOING IT ON PURPOSE, && IT WAS LEGAL.

R.I.P Casey. =(
bree says – reply to this

98

Re: Casey forever… – ..thank you casey!
Tiff says – reply to this

99

sorry to bring it down a notch but death is a great equalizer and it is unilateral.
many sympathies to his family and friends regardless of the cause.
he was clearly a talented and loved person so it is a loss for us all.
Tiff says – reply to this

100

sorry to bring it down a notch but death is a great equalizer and it is unilateral.
many sympathies to his family and friends regardless of the cause.
he was clearly a talented and loved person so it is a loss for us all.

More comments: [1] 2 3 »

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