Lamar Odom's Condition Being Treated as an Overdose, Drugs Found in His System
Lamar Odom (Getty Images)
The minute it was reported that Lamar Odom had been rushed to a Las Vegas hospital after being found unresponsive in a legal brothel, early speculation was that Odom had overdosed on drugs. After all, the former Los Angeles Lakers star’s substance addiction issues played a large part in the dissolution of his marriage to Khloé Kardashian. Sadly, it’s now been confirmed that indeed an overdose is the case.
E! News has confirmed through a source at Sunrise Hospital, where Odom remains unconscious and on a ventilator, that drugs were found in the 35-year-old’s system. “Virtually every drug imaginable was found in his system,” the source says.
Witnesses have also confirmed the drug news to TMZ, claiming Odom had cocaine and opiates in his system. They also noted track marks on one of his arms, but it was unclear if they were fresh or from previous drug use.
Odom is currently being treated as the victim of an overdose, though details revealed about the former NBA star’s condition reveal it’s not the only problem. He possibly suffered a stroke while unconscious and likely incurred brain damage.
“He was doing crack cocaine all weekend and he choked on his mucus,” E!’s source said. “They’re now having to fix all the damage it has done.”
Odom reportedly suffered from an ischemic stroke, which is caused by blockage in a blood vessel resulting in a lack of oxygen to the brain. It is the most common type of stroke and, according to the National Institutes of Health, can be associated with cocaine use.
The situation probably wasn’t helped by Odom’s size. After he was found Tuesday afternoon, paramedics reportedly planned to airlift him to the nearest hospital, but at 6-foot-10, he was too tall and had to be driven the 60 miles to the Las Vegas hospital instead.
Odom has a family history of addiction; his father suffered from an addiction to heroin when the basketball player was young. Odom also lost two close friends over the summer to drug-related deaths. The death of his best friend Jamie Sangaouthai was attributed to necrotizing fasciitis and chronic intravenous narcotism, the latter being the result of using unclean needles. Less than a week later, Odom’s friend Bobby Heyward, died of an accidental overdose.
Odom’s rep has released only one statement about his condition thus far, warning to “please don’t listen to the false information being circulated unofficially.”
Dennis Hof, the owner of the brothel where Odom was found, has previously stated that “there was no sign of drugs at all” in his client’s room, but noted that he was taking “herbal viagra” and had requested a bottle of cognac.
Related: Khloé Kardashian, Family Rush to Lamar Odom’s Side Following Hospitalization
Odom’s ex-wife Khloé Kardashian rushed to Las Vegas after word of his hospitalization got out, and she’s reportedly not left his bedside since. Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian have also made the trip to Vegas to be with Khloé.
Odom’s ex-sister-in-law, Kendall Jenner, tweeted out a brief but harrowing message, seemingly directed at Odom, saying, “please don’t go.”
