died last month at age 58. According to Gail’s publicist, the star died from anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury resulting from lack of blood, following resuscitation from cardio pulmonary arrest due to drug intoxication from substances including amphetamines, cocaine, ethanol and fentanyl.Gail’s mother, Mary Painter, opened up about her heartbreaking loss in a statement to People.“It breaks my heart to learn that my son died this way,” Painter said. “David became reliant on medicine many years ago, after multiple surgeries on his hands and wrists.” “He lived in enough pain to prevent him from working for almost a decade, with relief only achieved through full disability, physical therapy and pain medicine,” she continued. “He struggled to stop taking pharmaceuticals and did before turning toward a more Eastern pain management including acupuncture and natural medicines.”“I can only assume that his former opioid dependence played a part in self-medicating from uncontrolled sources,” Painter said, adding that she hopes her son’s death serves as a warning to the dangers of pharmaceutical addiction and the fentanyl epidemic.“David’s death shines a light on the countless innocent victims of pharmaceutical addiction and the fentanyl epidemic that has taken so many of our sons and daughters,” she went on. “Please keep David, and others battling pain or dependence, in your thoughts and prayers.”Last month, a rep for the actor told The Post that Gail died due to complications from sudden cardiac arrest.The “Port Charles” alum had been found unresponsive by emergency personnel who then performed CPR and defibrillation on him.
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