American guitarist and singer Tom Petty had a rock-star life. He toured the world and created unforgettable music. Earlier in his career, Tom Petty’s drug use was well-known. He openly spoke about having a heroin addiction in the late ’90s but then sought treatment and got sober. So it shocked the entire world when his opioid-related death was announced on October 2, 2017.
Tom Petty’s Rise to Fame
Thomas Earl Petty, known as Tom Petty, was the leader and front man of several rock bands, including Mudcrutch, the Traveling Wilburys and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He also had a successful career as a solo artist.
When Petty was just 10 years old, he had the opportunity to meet Elvis Presley. That encounter made him an avid Presley fan, and Petty instantly became interested in rock and roll. The Rolling Stones also inspired him when he was a young boy.
But it was the Beatles that made Petty believe that he, too, could be a musician. He once shared in an interview, “The minute I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show — and it’s true of thousands of guys — there was the way out. There was a way to do it. You get your friends, and you’re a self-contained unit. And you make the music. And it looked like so much fun. It was something I identified with. I had never been hugely into sports. … I had been a big fan of Elvis. But I really saw in the Beatles that here’s something I could do. I knew I could do it. It wasn’t long before there were groups springing up in garages all over the place.”
Petty believed in himself and pursued a career as a musician. He went on to be one of the most successful musicians of all time across his decades-long career.
What We Know About Tom Petty’s Drug Use
Was Tom Petty an addict? He shared in interviews that, at one point, he was addicted to heroin. The singer’s spiral into drug use occurred during his tumultuous marriage to longtime friend Jane Benyo. The pair married in 1974 and the relationship lasted 22 years. During that time, the relationship was often rocky, impacted by mental illness, drug use and Petty’s fame.
They divorced in 1996. In regard to his marriage, Petty shared, “I was used to living in hell. My parents’ marriage was hell. I lived through being terribly abused as a kid, and then I found myself in an abusive marriage.”
Petty would quickly find new love with his future wife, Dana York. But at the time, he was hiding a heroin addiction from her. The musician reflected on that time, saying, “Using heroin went against my grain. I didn’t want to be enslaved to anything. So I was always trying to figure out how to do less, and then that wouldn’t work. Tried to go cold turkey, and that wouldn’t work. It’s an ugly f—ing thing.”
Luckily, the rock star went into treatment for his addiction, and he got sober in 1999.
At the time of Tom Petty’s death in October 2017, the public was under the impression that the rock star had been sober for decades. So, what killed Tom Petty? Sadly, it was an accidental drug overdose.
At the age of 66, the famed rock star was still touring. While fans continued to enjoy Petty and his band, his physical ailments were getting worse. Petty suffered from coronary artery disease, emphysema, damaged knees and a fractured hip. Nevertheless, he continued to perform for 53 tour dates.
In a statement after his death, Petty’s family released a statement saying, “On the day [Petty] died, he was informed his hip had graduated to a full-on break, and it is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his overuse of medication.”
The family firmly believes the death was accidental. Petty’s widow said, “He had those three shows in L.A. Never had he been so proud of himself, so happy, so looking forward to the future — and then he’s gone.”
The coroner announced that Petty died from “multisystem organ failure due to resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrest due to mixed drug toxicity.” In other words, he’d had a cardiac arrest due to a mix of drugs. The drugs found in his system included fentanyl, oxycodone, generic Xanax, a generic form of a sleep aid called Restoril and a generic antidepressant, Celexa.
At 66, Petty wasn’t using heroin again, but it seems he was no longer sober. He was using prescription drugs for pain management, and he may have slipped back into addictive tendencies.
Petty wasn’t alone in his struggles with addiction. Substance abuse doesn’t discriminate. It can impact anyone, and it can be fatal. One study found that in 2022, there were 107,941 drug overdose deaths in the United States, which translates to an age-adjusted rate of 32.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population.
Lessons From Petty
Petty was an amazing musician, a devoted husband and a loving father. Thousands of people were affected by his loss. But it’s important to reflect and share his story.
He was open about his past addiction in interviews — it was never something he hid from his fans — and that transparency was so important. When famous people talk about issues such as addiction and mental health, they’re helping end the stigma on these topics.
When fans hear rock stars such as Petty share their addiction story, they:
- Learn that addiction can impact anyone
- Hear the serious consequences it can have
- Have an example of someone who’s successfully gotten sober
In addition to this, Petty’s story is a firm reminder to everyone that recovery is an ongoing process. He received treatment a long time ago and was sober for decades. But life circumstances brought new substances into his life, and he slipped beyond control.
Despite his tragic ending, Petty will be remembered for his art and performances.
Receive Addiction Treatment at FHE Health
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s critical to reach out and get help. Substance abuse disorder is a treatable disease, but seeking the support of professionals is essential.
FHE Health is a top-tier rehabilitation facility that offers substance abuse and mental health treatment. Contact us today to learn more about how our programs can help you.
