“American Horror Story” actor Harry Hains died from an accidental opioid overdose in January, according to multiple news reports Tuesday, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
An autopsy determined Hains died of intoxication from the prescription drug fentanyl, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta calls “a synthetic opioid pain reliever.”
The Australian-born Hains celebrated his 27th birthday Dec. 4, a little more than a month before his death in Los Angeles.
At the time, his mother actress Jane Badler confirmed his passing on Instagram.
“On Jan 7 my beautiful son died. He was 27 and had the world at his feet,” she wrote. “But sadly he struggled with mental illness and addiction . A brilliant spark shone bright too short a time .. I will miss you Harry every day of my life.”
Hains was born on Dec. 4, 1992, in Melbourne. He worked as a model but found major success as a producer and actor, with other roles in “Sneaky Pete” and “The OA” on Netflix. He also starred in several indie films, including 2018's “Groupie” and 2016's “The Surface.”
Hains also performed with his band ANTIBOY and had identified as gender fluid.
In a March 2019 interview with Boys by Girls, the actor discussed the challenge about not fitting into gender conformity.
“I know that I am born male, but I don’t think I represent what it means to be a man,” he told journalist Sophia Razvi.
“I believe we should be whatever we want. It gets kind of confusing when we start labeling ourselves, so I try to stay away from labels.”
His death came on the heels of at least two other prominent opioid overdoses in the last six months.
In January, rising Twin Cities rapper Lexii Alijai died at 21 after overdosing on booze and fentanyl, according to USA Today, citing a medical examiner’s report. The newspaper also reported that in October, TobyMac’s son, Truett Foster McKeehan, died at 21 after overdosing on fentanyl and amphetamines, according to autopsy and toxicology reports.
The Georgia angle
The number of overdose deaths caused by prescription drugs decreased in much of Georgia in 2018, according to a GBI analysis released in late January.
Autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in 152 counties determined the rate of prescription and opioid-related deaths was lower in 2018 than the previous three years, the agency said.
Overdose deaths attributed to illegal drugs, however, increased during the same period.
Experts say many factors could be behind the drop in prescription overdose deaths: increasing publicity surrounding the health crisis, years-old federal guidelines for opioid dosages as well as the expansion of prevention and treatment programs.
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