Leslie Carter was the sister of Backstreet Boys Nick Carter and Aaron Carter. Last month, she died at the age of 25, leaving behind a daughter who was less than a year old. Why? Her family members believe that her death was caused by an overdose of prescription medication.

Did Leslie Carter Die of a Prescription Drug Overdose?

A star in her own right, Carter was on the reality show House of Carters and an aspiring singer. But prescription drug dependence was causing her serious problems and she had recently moved back to upstate New York to live with her family in an attempt to fight the problem, according to TMZ. According to reports, her family tried to empty the house of all prescription drugs in an attempt to help Carter heal but when they left the house briefly to do a few errands, they came home to find her unconscious. Emergency medical professionals were called immediately, but they could not revive Carter and she never woke up. Though the results of the autopsy have not yet been returned, many believe that her addiction was the cause of her death.

Protecting Your Loved Ones From Prescription Drug Overdose

Family members who recognize a prescription drug addiction in their loved one often do exactly what the Carters did – bring their loved one home and try to help him or her stop abusing drugs on their own. Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions, the risks to this method of cold turkey, at-home detox are great, and prescription drug overdose is one of them. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and too much for most addicts to handle on their own. Given the first opportunity, they will likely relapse on any drug they can find – and many take too much for their systems to handle. Relapse during detox or after a period of sobriety is one of the most common – and deadly – situations for a prescription drug overdose.

Getting a Loved One to Agree to Treatment

The safest way for someone struggling with a physical and psychological prescription drug addiction to stop abusing their drug of choice is to enter into an inpatient treatment facility that provides round-the-clock medical care and support. If the patient is over the age of 18, however, he or she must voluntarily agree to get help – this isn’t always easy or even possible. An intervention, however, may help.

Contact us today at the phone number listed above to learn more about how you can help your loved one fight a prescription drug dependence. Call now.