New piece of evidence found at scene appears to confirm suspected cause of Hayden Panettiere’s death

The device used to dispense Narcan, a medicine typically used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose, was found at the scene of Hayden Panettiere’s death, according to TMZ.

Sources report that the equipment was found on a mattress inside the apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where the actress died.

It is currently unknown if Panettiere received the dose of Narcan or if another person in distress at the apartment received it. According to 911 dispatch audio, the Nashville alum died after an "overdose".

Emergency medical responders were called to the scene on Sunday following a report regarding an "unidentified female" in "cardiac arrest". Within minutes, "CPR [was] in progress" for the "overdose". Responders attempted to resuscitate her using "advanced cardiac life support" and chest compressions, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32PM Panettiere was 36 years old.

Public openness with past personal battles

Panettiere spoke publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction. In July 2022, she revealed to People that her addiction spiraled so far "out of control" at one point that she "couldn't live without" substances.

She recounted being offered "happy pills" prior to walking red carpets when she was 15 years old. "They were to make me peppy during interviews," she recalled. "I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction."

Hayden Panettiere tragically passed away on Sunday (August 16). Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

She noted that while her career took off, she continued to drink heavily and occasionally take opioids. "My saving grace is that I couldn't be messy while on set and working," she said. "But things kept getting out of control [off set]. And as I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn't live without."

Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, also detailed her experiences.

Final public message and reflections

During a final interview in May while promoting her memoir at a book event in Los Angeles, Panettiere stated that she wanted to "leave the world a better place."

"The strength is in our vulnerability," she told the audience. "So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, 'Because you've talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life.'"

Featured image credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images