Posted by Emily Exton on 03/22/2012 at 5:57 PM News

The Popdust Files: whitney houston

Whitney Houston’s death has been ruled accidental drowning, a Los Angeles County coroner ruled on Thursday. Houston’s body was found submerged in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel prior to a pre-Grammy party last month, and pronounced dead on the scene shortly afterward. According to a corresponding toxicology report, cocaine was found in Houston’s system and contributed to her death. The official ruling reveals Houston suffered from, “drowning and effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.” Additional drugs found in Houston’s system at the time, but that did not contribute to her death, include marijuana, Xanax, and Benadryl.

Prescription bottles were confiscated from her hotel room, but officials noted that it was nothing in “alarming amounts.” While Houston publicly battled addiction and substance abuse throughout much of her career, family members speculated that she may have died from a heart attack. The Grammy Award-winning singer died on February 11 at the age of 48.

[USA Today]