Preliminary toxicology reports indicate that drugs were present in his system at the time of his death. Investigators report that packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, energy supplements and other over-the-counter drugs, were found among his belongings, leading to the belief that the star “was going through some kind of substance abuse episode.”
Payne openly spoke of his mental health and substance abuse struggles and last year, the singer celebrated 100 days of sobriety.
“I feel like I’ve got more of a grip on life now and everything that was getting away from me, I just feel like I’ve got more of a handle on it,” Payne said in 2021. “I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognize anymore. It’s good to be in this position. I definitely don’t need those things anymore. The party’s over.”
