Miya Pearson
Michael Jackson, who had a long history of insomnia, used a variety of drugs to help him sleep. The most notable of these was propofol, a powerful surgical anesthetic that Jackson referred to as milk. Jackson had allegedly been seeking propofol as a sleep aid for over a decade before his death, despite warnings from medical professionals about its unsuitability for this purpose. On the day of his death in 2009, Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered propofol to the singer, resulting in a lethal overdose. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drugs Used | Diazepam, Lorazepam, Midazolam, Propofol, Pethidine, Oxycodone |
| Nickname for Propofol | "Milk", "Milk of Amnesia" |
| Drug Used Before Death | Propofol |
| Drug Administered by Murray | Propofol |
| Drug Addiction | Yes |
| Drug Addiction Extent | Quite Extensive |
| Drug Dependency | Yes |
| Drug Dependency Extent | "Quite extensive" drug addiction |
| Drug Dependency Type | Dependency on painkillers |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Jackson's insomnia
Jackson had asked for the powerful surgical general anesthetic propofol, also known as "milk of amnesia" or simply "milk", to help him sleep at least a decade before he died from an overdose of the drug. He had first used it in a medical setting in 1991, and it was administered to him during his HIStory World Tour of 1996 and 1997. Jackson would be "taken down" at night and "brought back up" in the morning with the drug. He had asked Dr Catherine Quinn, a dentist who specializes in giving anesthesia during dental procedures, to infuse him with propofol in 1998, but she refused, telling him it was inappropriate to use anesthesia as a sleep aid. Jackson responded by saying that his time under anesthesia was the best sleep he had ever had.
In April 2009, Jackson told Cherilyn Lee, a nurse practitioner who had been treating him with vitamins, that he needed propofol to help him sleep. Lee warned him that it was unsafe for home use and that he might not wake up, but Jackson insisted that doctors had told him he would be fine as long as he was monitored. Jackson also asked Lee to find an anesthesiologist who could put him to sleep with propofol, but she refused. Lee testified that Jackson became very agitated when he awoke after just four hours of sleep after one of her treatments on April 19, 2009.
On June 24, 2009, Jackson returned to his home in Los Angeles around 12:30 a.m. and retired to bed an hour later. Murray spent hours trying to get Jackson to sleep using milder drugs before resorting to propofol, which the singer referred to as his "milk". Jackson was infused with the drug, and he died from an overdose. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
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Propofol, milk, and other drugs
Michael Jackson had a long history of insomnia and drug use. On the night of his death, Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered various drugs to help him sleep, including diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam. After several hours and injections, Jackson was still unable to sleep. He repeatedly asked for "milk", a nickname for the powerful surgical general anesthetic propofol.
Propofol is a fast-acting drug that induces unconsciousness within seconds. Nicknamed the "milk of amnesia" due to its milk-like appearance, it is typically administered intravenously to patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures. Jackson had allegedly requested propofol from several doctors at least a decade before his death, but they refused, warning him of the dangers of using anesthesia as a sleep aid. Despite this, Jackson was able to obtain propofol, and Dr. Murray admitted to administering it to him nightly for two months before his death.
In addition to propofol, Jackson also used other drugs to help him sleep. During his HIStory World Tour in 1996 and 1997, an anesthesiologist would administer propofol to help him sleep at night and wake up in the morning. Dr. Arnold Klein admitted to occasionally giving Jackson pethidine to sedate him, and Dr. Neil Ratner sedated him with propofol between shows. Jackson also suffered from a "quite extensive" addiction to painkillers, for which he sought rehab in 1993.
In the months leading up to his death, Jackson sought natural treatments for his insomnia, hiring Cherilyn Lee, a nurse practitioner specializing in holistic healthcare. However, he became convinced that propofol was the only cure for his insomnia and repeatedly asked Lee to find an anesthesiologist who would administer it. When she refused, Jackson hired Dr. Murray, who agreed to give him propofol. On the night of his death, Jackson received several drugs from Dr. Murray, including propofol, which ultimately led to his death.
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The role of Dr. Conrad Murray
Michael Jackson suffered from insomnia and had a history of using drugs to help him sleep. Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was tasked with helping Jackson sleep and gave him various drugs, including diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam, while monitoring him by his bedside.
Dr. Murray admitted to administering 25 mg of propofol intravenously to Jackson on the night of his death. Propofol is a powerful anesthetic administered in hospitals to induce and maintain anesthesia during surgery. It is associated with cardiac arrest and may be used off-label for anxiolytic and other medically unsubstantiated purposes. Jackson referred to propofol as "milk" because of its opaque, milk-like appearance. Dr. Murray claimed that he tried treating Jackson with other drugs and resorted to propofol only after the singer insisted. He also said that he had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol and onto milder drugs in the days before his death.
Dr. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death and was sentenced to four years in prison. He served about two years before being released in October 2013. Jackson's family also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Murray, alleging that he repeatedly lied to cover up his use of propofol, did not keep sufficient medical records, and was negligent in his use of medications on Jackson.
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Jackson's history of drug use
Michael Jackson had a long history of drug use, stemming from his struggles with insomnia. The singer had reportedly used propofol, a powerful surgical anaesthetic, as a sleep aid. Nicknamed "milk of amnesia" due to its milk-like appearance, propofol is a fast-acting drug that induces unconsciousness within seconds. Jackson first used propofol in a medical setting in 1991 and later requested it as a sleep aid from doctors and nurses.
In the years leading up to his death, Jackson sought help from various medical professionals for his insomnia. He hired Cherilyn Lee, a nurse practitioner specialising in holistic healthcare, to treat him with vitamins. However, Jackson became convinced that propofol was the only cure for his insomnia. Lee refused to administer propofol, warning Jackson that it was unsafe for home use. Despite her refusal, Jackson continued to seek out propofol, even asking Lee to find an anesthesiologist who would administer it.
In addition to propofol, Jackson was also taking other prescription medications. Dr. Petros Levounis, an expert hired by AEG Live, testified that Jackson exhibited signs of ""doctor shopping", trying to find medical practitioners who would provide him with opioid medications. Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was also involved in administering drugs to the singer. Murray admitted to giving Jackson milder sedatives, such as lorazepam and midazolam, before resorting to propofol.
On the day of Jackson's death, Murray administered propofol to the singer, which ultimately led to his death. Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter and accused of giving Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic. Jackson's family also held AEG Live accountable, alleging that they were complicit in Murray's negligence and failed to provide proper medical equipment and personnel.
In conclusion, Michael Jackson's history of drug use was marked by his reliance on prescription medications, particularly propofol, to treat his insomnia. Despite warnings from medical professionals, Jackson continued to seek out and use propofol, ultimately leading to his tragic death. The aftermath of his death revealed a complex web of enablers and a healthcare system that failed to protect him from the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
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Jackson's family's concerns and lawsuits
Michael Jackson's death was ruled as an overdose of the drug propofol, a powerful surgical general anesthetic administered intravenously in hospitals. Jackson had long suffered from insomnia and had a history of using drugs to help him sleep.
Jackson Family's Concerns and Lawsuits
Jackson's family raised questions about the role of AEG Live, the concert promoter, in the last few weeks of his life. Joe Jackson, Michael's father, filed a complaint with the California Medical Board alleging that AEG Live was illegally practising medicine by demanding that Murray get Jackson off various medications. The complaint also alleged that AEG Live failed to provide the resuscitation equipment and nurse that Murray had requested.
In addition, Joe Jackson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray, alleging that he repeatedly lied to cover up his use of propofol, did not keep sufficient medical records, and was negligent in his use of medications on Jackson. Murray, Jackson's personal physician, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and accused of giving Jackson an overdose of propofol.
In 2013, a sleep expert, Charles Czeisler, testified in a lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, against AEG Live. Czeisler stated that Jackson's health had deteriorated due to sleep deprivation, and that AEG Live was responsible for his death as they failed to properly investigate Murray, who was later convicted of administering the fatal dose of propofol.
In 2023, a California appeals court revived lawsuits from two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege that Michael Jackson sexually abused them for years when they were boys. The court found that the lawsuits, which had been previously dismissed, could be validly claimed, and that the Jackson-owned corporations named as defendants had a responsibility to protect the men.
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Frequently asked questions
Michael Jackson took propofol, also known as "Diprivan", a powerful surgical anesthetic. He also took diazepam, lorazepam, and midazolam.
Jackson referred to propofol as "milk", or "milk of amnesia" due to its opaque, milk-like appearance.
Yes, Jackson had long suffered from insomnia.
Yes, Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, administered propofol to Jackson. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Yes, Jackson also took milder sedatives such as lorazepam and midazolam. He was also treated with vitamin infusions.
