Comedian Tony Slattery's previous expensive cocaine and alcohol addiction is likely to have caused his death despite years of being clean, an expert has claimed. The star died on Tuesday at the age of 65. He had suffered a heart attack on Sunday, his devastated partner of nearly 40 years had confirmed.
The former star of Channel 4's Whose Line Is It Anyway? had previously shared the extent of his battle with addiction. In a 2019 TV interview, he said at low points he would take 10 grams of cocaine and down two bottles of vodka each day. However, he was able to emerge from his "lifelong battle with dark demons" and was free from addiction for a number of years. But the damage could have already been cause, an expert has said.
Ian Hamilton, Associate Professor at the University of York, explained to Mail Online how cocaine and binge drinking can have long-lasting impacts on a person's heart. He explained "While it's good news he was able to overcome and abstain, the damage could already have been done. Particularly with cocaine because it does have an effect on the Cardiovascular system through the heart.
"Unfortunately alcohol is a sneaky drug really - it creeps up on you slowly before causing problems. Cocaine is highly addictive and very damaging to the heart.". While reiterating the fact he'd always encourage people to abstain and receive help, Mr Hamilton believes the toll may have already been taken on the comic's body. He said at the height of Tony's addiction, if his words are to be true, he's been having around 50 units of alcohol a day. "When you think chief medical officers' advice is 40 units a week, it's way over the recommended level," he said.
