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Tom Petty died of accidental drug overdose, family says

Tom Petty died from an accidental drug overdose after taking a variety of medications, the family for the legendary rock star said Friday.

Petty, who suffered emphysema, knee problems and more recently a fractured hip, was prescribed various pain medications including Fentanyl patches, his family said.

"On the day he 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 over use of medication," his family wrote on Facebook.

Our family sat together this morning with the Medical Examiner – Coroner’s office and we were informed of their final...

Posted by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on Friday, January 19, 2018

The family called Petty’s Oct. 2 death an unfortunate accident.

“As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives. Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.”