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Report: Prescription drug, alcohol combo killed Whitney Houston

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The funeral program is held by a mourner outside of The New Hope Baptist Church after the Funeral of Whitney Houston in Newark, New Jersey on February 18, 2012. UPI/John Angelillo 
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Published: Feb. 22, 2012 at 9:12 PM

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Whitney Houston died of a lethal combination of Valium, Xanax and alcohol, sources close to the Los Angeles investigation told RadarOnline.com.

GALLERY: Notable deaths of 2012

"Whitney had taken Valium, Xanax, and alcohol, which led to her death. The coroner is waiting on final toxicology results to determine which one of the three was the major contributing factor of her demise," an insider told the celebrity news Web site. "The coroner will be closely examining Whitney's blood-alcohol content at the time she died as well. The sedatives and alcohol will almost certainly be the cause of death, and not drowning. Her heart stopped beating because her respiratory system was suppressed because of the anti-anxiety meds, and combined with the booze it probably happened very quickly before she was found partially submerged in the bathtub."

The Grammy Award-winning recording star, who had long battled addictions to drugs and alcohol, died at age 48 Feb. 11 in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was buried Saturday in her native New Jersey.

Topics: Whitney Houston, Beverly Hilton
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