Cory Monteith Overdose: Heroin Wasn't Laced With Other Drugs, Says Coroner

PacificCoastNews.com

Even a pretty solid answer didn't stop the search for more answers yesterday when it came to Cory Monteith.

After the BC Coroners Service announced that the Glee star had died of mixed drug toxicity involving heroin and alcohol, speculation began as to whether yet another substance—namely, the opiate fentanyl—contributed to the Glee star's sudden death at 31.

"Toxicology results did not indicate any presence of the drug fentanyl," the coroner's office said in a statement Wednesday.

PHOTOS: Cory Monteith's life in pictures

Fentanyl is an opioid narcotic with similar behavior as morphine and, according to a report circulating among Canadian media outlets, experts are considering a possible link between it and an uptick in heroin overdoses in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

"Our frontline officers have spoke with many individuals who have reported being concerned about the potency of heroin that is currently being bought, sold and used," Constable Ian MacDonald told CBC News this morning. "A possible explanation for the increased potency and the overdose may be the presence of fentanyl in the drugs."

Per the report, the B.C. Provincial Health Officer issued a warning in May that there had been a spike in heroin overdoses linked to fentany, with 23 reported cases in the first four months of this year.

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But as the BCCS reiterated, Monteith's tox screen turned up only alcohol and heroin. Coroner's spokeswoman Barb McClintock also said yesterday that the investigation into his death is ongoing, while Vancouver Police spokesman Brian Montague called it "a tragic accident."

Hotel staffers found the actor dead in his room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver on Saturday after he had missed his 12 p.m. checkout time.

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Monteith's remains have reportedly since been cremated at his mother's request. Reps for Lea Michele said Tuesday that she "has been grieving alongside his family and making appropriate arrangements with them. They are supporting each other as they endure this profound loss together."

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Following a stay in rehab, Monteith had opened up about his battles with substance abuse in the months leading up to his death. Multiple sources have told E! News that he seemed very committed to remaining sober, but the extent of his troubles are really only coming to light in sad hindsight.

One friend revealed that Monteith had been using both heroin and crystal meth.

"Cory fought his demons and the demons won," said another pal. "Cory wasn't going out and doing these things to have fun. He couldn't stop. He tried. He just couldn't."

PHOTOS: Fan tributes to Cory Monteith from around the world

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Cory Monteith Overdose: "Scary" Drug Addiction Darker Than People Thought; "He Tried So Hard to Beat This"

by Marc Malkin Tue., Jul. 16, 2013 4:01 PM PDT

Matthias Clamer/FOX

Cory Monteith lost.

He coudn't win his long battle with substance abuse, which he struggled with for many, if not most, of his 31 years.

As everyone knows by now, the Glee star died of a drug overdose. Heroin and alcohol were among the substances found in his body.

"Cory fought his demons and the demons won," a friend says. "Cory wasn't going out and doing these things to have fun. He couldn't stop. He tried. He just couldn't."

What most people don't know is Monteith's drug use was a lot darker than the public and many of his friends ever suspected.

Before Monteith checked into the Betty Ford Center in California after an intervention in late March, "he was shooting up heroin and crystal meth," another friend of Monteith remembers. "It was very scary."

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He had "major track marks," the bruised-looking blemishes and scars on the skin caused by intravenous drug use. "His detox was very long," the friend said.

Monteith reportedly also spent some time at the Crossroads Centre, a drug and alcohol addiction rehab on Antigua that was cofounded by musician Eric Clapton.

He appeared to be healthy and happy when he was first spotted out of rehab in April on a vacation to Mexico with his girlfriend Lea Michele.

When his fatal relapse began is unclear.

But as a source told me earlier this week, Monteith "was super committed to getting sober."

PHOTOS: Fan tributes from around the world

Carin Baer/FOX

He would often say, "This my last chance."

"Cory wasn't a bad guy," one of the friends said. "He tried so hard to beat this. He didn't want to use. But he had a disease. He was an addict. There's nothing nice about it, but that didn't make him a bad guy."

If or someone you know may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, call Alcoholics Anonymous' 24-hour hotline at 1-800-923-8722.

Also, If you're interested in honoring Monteith's memory, his reps have asked that donations be made to any of the three charities he worked with: Chrysalis, Virgin Unite and Project Limelight Society.

Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

PHOTOS: Cory's life in pictures

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