AP source: DEA joins Jackson death investigation

WASHINGTON — The Drug Enforcement Administration is joining the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a law enforcement official said late Wednesday.

The DEA is stepping in at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation. The federal agency can provide resources and experience in investigating drug abuse, illicit drug manufacturers known as "pill mills" and substances local police may not be familiar with, the official said.

The DEA would likely play a role in looking at Jackson's doctors, the drugs they prescribed and whether the doctors were registered with the DEA to prescribe those substances as federal law requires. Also, investigators are expected to look at the sources of the drugs provided to Jackson or his associates to determine if there was a pattern of trafficking.

Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. But Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said she encountered a man tortured by sleep deprivation and one who expressed opposition to recreational drug use.

Lee told the AP Tuesday she repeatedly rejected Jackson's demands for the drug, Diprivan. Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, Lee said. It is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. It is generally given through an IV needle in the hand.

But the federal law enforcement official said that Propofol is not a controlled substance. "It's not the kind of drug the DEA has seen being abused," the official said.

Comments

[jennytaylia]

I love it. People die all the time due to legally prescribed drugs (see article on Xyban & Chantix), but because a celebrity dies due to the same thing, the DEA gets involved. Where were you, DEA, when legal, prescribed pharmaceuticals killed my husband???

[KindMisica]

Nothing more disgusting that a doctor giving illegal drugs to a patient and acting as an enabler, knowing full well that that might result in the patient's death. I'd give all of those crooks long jail time!

[kbkw54]

Anna Nicole all over again.!!!

[Bude]

This story is beginning to resemble the Robin Williams joke "Cocaine is God's way of saying that you're making too much money." It wasn't coke, but everybody must get stoned.

[VentiMocha09]

Very true!!

[Bude]

There has to be some place where Jackson fans can go and share warm fuzzies. I don't think the HP is that place, especially this story. This story is horrendously ugly. It is about the enormous quantity of pharmaceuticals found at Jackson's home, enough to involve a federal agency.

While I have been criticized for some insensitive comments, they are generally on topic and tone. Comments like "the light in your words, and the music shone so bright", on a story about the DEA, are not appropriate.

[Bude]

Reportedly, Jackson was spending fifty grand a month on drugs.

[Mister C]

Here we go crucifying him in death!

[rubinoff]

Why is his 'Will' being discussed all over the television, air waves, internet...Who leaked it?....It's really not the public's business. :(

[IssuesInFocus]

I am asking the same question-- It should have been revealed after the burial. Are we seeing two sets of rules by our 'media' ? This is not only in poor taste, but also disgraceful on the part of those who could have kept this under the lid somewhat longer. Its terrible for the family! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1VTurPPwaE

[rubinoff]

matt lauer is doing an exclusive interview with Jermaine..­.wow!!...t­he family is hurting and yet, the media is hounding them.:(

strange isn't it,... if only the media showed this kind of intensity on focusing on the other issues that our country faces, perhaps we be in much better shape....ya think?

[grammargirl]

If the family is hurting, it has the power to refuse all interviews. Family members could ask for privacy and shun the media until after the funeral. But there is among them this need to hold the spotlight --perhaps to advance an individual career here, or promote a new record label there, capitalizing on the current post mortem purchasing frenzy. No sense of what is appropriate. A strange breed.

[Bude]

You're right, he should have been crucified in life.

[rubinoff]

stink stirring, tro0l...:(

[miranda2060]

Hideous comment.

[Solja]

Calling for someone's death. FLAGGED!

[PaleMail]

The War on Drugs continues with no end in sight.

[rubinoff]

Notice all of the prescription drug pushing on television on a daily basis, all day long....pathetic. :(

[MICHELLEDIANE3]

Michael Jackson "You are not alone." Not anymore. I believe you are now, the angel in heaven you sought so hard to be here on earth. You were so misunderstood, vilified, and beat upon. There was so much mockery and hatred of you, for only one reason. You"re goodness; your luminosity into the beautiful heart you believed could be in every man. You had such generosity, and tried so hard to teach others, to look into the soul; and to not judge based on color, creed or class.
But darkness, doesn"t like beauty to shine. It detracts so much from what it is trying to do. Create dark humanless souls of us all. To replace the radiance that was born within all of us, by God. You spoke of nothing, but love and peace. Your light through your words, and music shone so bright. You"ve brought so much too so many, but only sought pure love for yourself. Your sensitivity brought ridicule. When all you wished most of all was to be embraced and understood.
I think what personally stood out to me most of all; was your tender nature. Envy in other people mistook that for weakness, when in reality it is strength. The force of who you were was so strong. Many people wish to have that, but never achieve it.
We are all afforded different opportunities in life. Instead of being envious, they should have rejoiced with you, in your success and in your life.

[Ascoli]

WOW ...you must live on the same planet MJ did.

[MICHELLEDIANE3]

Ascoli The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."

[Trueheart]

Maybe not another planet, but rather another dimension of reality?
They want him to be something he was not, and won't let go of the fairy tale.
At some point, it will become undeniable that this man was not what his fans believed him to be. Maybe living up to that fantasy was part of the pressure that turned a gifted artist into a shadow of what he once was.

[rubinoff]

Well stated....Amazing isn't it how the so-called legitimate media have jumped on the band-wagon of gossip mongering, rumors, etc. in order to make a buck. I didn't realize just how sic people can be...

[aflyinyoursoup]

Is this discourse really necessary???
Is this person really worth the energy???
NO!

[rooks]

Not for just one person, hopefully their scope is wider, which it probably is.

[torontojohn]

America is facing a crisis of sorts relating to prescription abuse with opiate based pharmaceuticals being the culprit. It killed Anna Nicole, her son and now Michael. It's a huge problem.

[GrainneKathleen]

the problem is, these drugs are a necessity for those who deal with acute and especially chronic pain. western medicine is very poor at treating pain, and alternative therapies are often cost prohibitive. not everyone gets addicted to these drugs, in fact many wish they didn't have to take them because of their side effects (i speak from years of experience in dealing with chronic pain). opiates should be available to people who need them, but doctors have to carefully monitor their patients who take them. until we have new and better, less addictive ways of treating pain, many of these drugs are one of our only options.

[MICHELLEDIANE3]

"Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny"

[Bude]

What?

[Solja]

said the abortion doctor to your mother

[iRock]

michael was hurting. he was trying to numb his life... :(

[grammargirl]

Can't see what all the fuss is about. He wanted to go because he was tired of his tortured experience. Investigation is necessary yes, but the hysteria about his "untimely death" is misplaced.

[goodgravy]

dayum. homie was packing quite a load.

[lovethesinner]

Sounds like Diprivan is a pre-op general anesthesia like Scopolamine, (perhaps a less dangerous replacement for same since Scopolamine has been banned in all operating room procedures) and that Michael was using it as a sleeping pill.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he was using it recreationally, as well. (the Scopolamine I had for my knee surgery made me feel like I was visiting earth for the first time--we're talking a complete break from personal memory. If you'd asked me my name I couldn't have told you)

Remember that complete fascination with EVERYTHING that you had when you were a toddler? That sense of excitement, and profound wonder that can only come for literally KNOWING NOTHING?

Instant childhood. For a man who never had one. (no wonder he slept with kids, he probably was one, psychologically, every night, just before he turned out the lights)

With the DEA called in, it also sounds like his source was not a doctor, (as it would be impossible to get outside a hospital pharmacy) but more likely an illegal source.

One thing money can't buy is an acceptance of one's self. And the only alternative to being yourself is being miserable.

No matter how you look at Michael Jackson, apart from career, his story is almost unbearable sad. And mysterious.

[thenextguy]

Sounds awesome. How can I get some of this Scopolamine?

[hopefulnana]

Well, start by taking a baseball bat to your knee . . .

[allieq]

I agree with you. The story is unbearable. It hurts my hear the more I hear/read about it. I kind of dread the coming weeks and months as the media continues to inundate us with this information. Maybe I can go live in a hole.

[allieq]

*heart*

[nylibgrrl]

"I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he was using it recreationally, as well."

As other people would define recreational use, you are probably right. He probably didn't see it that way but as something he really truly needed for both his mental and physical issues, especially since it seems like most of what he was taking were legal prescription drugs.

[grammargirl]

Jackson's voice remained suspiciously prepubescent well beyond his teenage years, and when it did change, his singing voice remained at countertenor for life. Whatever they did to keep the cash cow producing must have entrapped his mind in that childhood state. when you mess with puberty the results can be devastating.

[GrainneKathleen]

are you suggesting he was castrated?!? he's not the only man with a high voice.

[tjinc]

This nutritionist sounds like a total sucker.

Oh,yeah. Then she turns around and reports Jackson's jonesing for a powerful IV anesthetic.

What does she not get about the behavior of addicts?