Experts say Liam Payne had a prescription seizure drug called Super Valium in his possession before his death, and that his abuse of it has increased.
Argentine police said they found white powder, tin foil, an empty champagne glass and a broken television in Payne’s room after he fell to his death in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
They also discovered a drug called clonazepam, which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms, and anxiety disorders.
Pills sold under the brand name Klonopin are highly addictive and can cause severe addiction when combined with alcohol.
Hotel staff told emergency services that an “aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol” had been “destroying the room” minutes before his death.
Experts say Liam Payne was in possession of a prescription seizure drug called Super Valium, which is increasingly being abused by young people.
Research suggests more people are abusing clonazepam (also known by its “street names” K-pin and Super Valium) to get high.
Argentine police said they found white powder, tin foil, an empty champagne glass and a broken television in Payne’s room after he fell to his death in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. They also discovered a drug called clonazepam
Hotel staff told emergency services that an “aggressive man who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol” was “destroying the room” minutes before his death.
Research shows that more people are abusing clonazepam (also known by its “street names” K-pin and Super Valium) to get high.
In the United States, the number of people hospitalized for clonazepam abuse has nearly doubled since 2004.
And in the UK, the Center for Addictions says clonazepam addiction is now a “regular occurrence”.
However, the dangers of this drug are well known. Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks has publicly documented her eight-year battle with clonazepam addiction.
She was first prescribed it to overcome her cocaine addiction and was convinced it was safe.
“Klonopin turned me into a zombie,” Nicks told US Weekly in 2001.
She also described it as a “horribly dangerous drug” and said that the eventual 45-day drug detox in the hospital felt like “someone opened the door and put me through hell.” Ta.
The dangers of this drug are well known. Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks has publicly documented her eight-year battle with clonazepam addiction. Photo taken with Harry Styles at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2019
Describing it as a “horribly dangerous drug,” Nix said that when she finally detoxed herself from the drug by spending 45 days in hospital, it felt like “someone opened the door and put me through hell.” Ta.
Girls’ Generation actress Lena Dunham also suffered from an addiction to Clonezapem.
The scriptwriter became addicted to drugs in 2017 and was prescribed drugs due to the stress he experienced while filming the final series of Girls.
“The way I looked at the last premiere, I was thin and empty-eyed, but that satisfies my appetite 100% and my body shuts down in response. ,” Dunham said.
This drug is part of a group of addictive anti-anxiety drugs known as benzodiazepines, which also includes alprazolam, also known as Xanax, and diazepam, sometimes sold under the brand name Valium.
The drug has also been implicated in contributing to the deaths of other stars, including Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston.
Experts say patients often crush and inhale tablets to get high.
Girls actress Lena Dunham became addicted to drugs while filming the final series of Girls, which she described as being like a “50-car wreck.”
“The way I looked at the last premiere, I was thin and empty-eyed, but that satisfies my appetite 100% and my body shuts down in response. ,” Dunham said.
“We regularly see people addicted to benzos like clonazepam,” says Lee Fernandes, a mental health and addiction specialist at the UK Addiction Treatment London Clinic.
“A lot of times they start taking it because of anxiety and get hooked pretty quickly.
“I’ve seen patients receive a week’s worth of prescriptions from their doctors and quickly become addicted. They end up buying more on the black market.
“Withdrawal is incredibly difficult because it causes such severe withdrawal symptoms.”
Clonazepam is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows down brain activity.
Users often describe a “high,” which is a feeling of relaxation and sometimes euphoria. However, it is dangerous when combined with alcohol.
Research suggests that these combinations can lead to extreme drowsiness, hospitalization, and even death.
Experts also say quitting tablets can lead to extreme anxiety and sleep deprivation. Some patients experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and tremors.
Clonazepam is sold under brand names such as Klonopin and Rivotril, and is also known by common names such as K-Pin and Super Valium.
Users often describe a “high,” which is a feeling of relaxation and sometimes euphoria. However, it is dangerous when combined with alcohol
On the social media website Reddit, dozens of people are posting about their struggles with clonazepam addiction.
“How long does a Klonopin withdrawal last?” one user wrote on a forum dedicated to people who suffer from panic attacks.
“I’m on day 6 of quitting Klonopin and the withdrawal symptoms are severe,” they added. “I’m in a really bad state of dissociation and my anxiety is out of control.”
Another Klonopin user turned to Reddit’s addiction forum for advice, asking, “How do I deal with anxiety and insomnia after tapering?”
But others on the website talk about how good it felt.
“I wish I could take Klonopin every day,” one person wrote. “Clonazepam is amazing. Makes me feel normal,” another wrote.
In the past, Liam Payne has spoken out about his struggle with alcohol and drug abuse.
In 2021, Liam made tragic comments about hitting rock bottom on Stephen Bartlett’s CEO Diaries podcast.
Liam Payne praises Russell Brand for helping him get sober: ‘We went to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings together,’ he said
In July 2023, he revealed that he spent 100 days in a rehabilitation facility after hitting “rock bottom.” He used the word two years ago to describe his state of mind during a surprisingly candid interview on the CEO Diaries podcast.
The 31-year-old, who has seven-year-old son Bear with ex-partner Cheryl Cole, also admitted he was “a lot of pissed off”.
He also previously revealed that he suffers from anxiety and agoraphobia. This is described by the NHS as a fear of getting into a situation from which escape is difficult.
“I never want to leave the house. Sometimes it’s a little bit of a struggle in the sense that there are days when I don’t want to leave the house,” he told Esquire Middle East in 2019.
