Country music singer Luke Bell died on August 26. It was reported on Tuesday that Tucson Arizona's ABC station, KGUN reported the cause of death as an accidental fentanyl-related overdose.
Bell died at the age of 32, just six days after being reported missing in Tucson. Bell was also said to suffer from arteriosclerotic cardiomyopathy. His blood alcohol level was in the range of 0.076 on the day of his demise, per The US Sun.
Brian Buchanan, Bell's manager, told TMZ:
“Luke was a fighter as long as he could, however the illness took the best of him. While he battled the illness, he was the most kind and sweet person. He's at peace now and is feeling a little better.”
Bell's family said they “lost our beloved son, brother, and friend, and we are heartbroken.” The family also said that Bell was suffering from mental illness.
“Unfortunately Luke suffered from the mental illness that progressed following the death of his father in the year 2015. Luke was supported throughout his illness by a group of family and friends who were supportive. However, he could not receive the care he needed to ease his pain.”
Also, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as well as it was discovered that his “mental state took a turn for the worse” in the last few years, per Saving Country Music.
The family continued to say that their:
“[h]earts go out to the millions of people affected by mental illness who, like us, understand the devastating disappointment of a system that consistently fails to provide caring solutions to those who suffer.”
Bell's family and friends' praised Bell for being a man with “a gentle heart, a wanderer's spirit, and a musical gift that he was fortunate to share with us and the world.”
The statement concluded:
“We are extremely grateful to his fans and friends who have embraced Luke as well as his songs. We'd like to thank all Luke's fans, family, friends, and acquaintances who have shared pictures and stories of happy moments with him.”
“As we grieve, we respectfully request some privacy so that we can have the space to grieve and honor the memory of Luke. Our only hope of comfort is the knowledge we know that Luke is now free and at peace.”
Fentanyl is a dangerous drug which can tear families apart. The fentanyl issue should be treated seriously by our supposed leaders. They need to put an end to the open-air markets for drugs and close the southern border and be serious about it. The cartels make millions, if not billions of dollars, from the sale of these substances. It's enough. It's long overdue that the leaders of our country must take action.
