The family of Tom Petty has released a statement encouraging the public to talk about addiction after it was revealed today (January 19) that the American rock 'n' roll icon died of a drug overdose.

“Our family sat together this morning with the medical examiner—coroner’s office and we were informed of their final analysis that Tom Petty passed away due to an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications,” reads a short essay published on the musician’s website.

“As a family we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives.”

The statement notes that Petty suffered from a number of painful physical ailments, including a fractured hip that was made worse by his refusal to take the time off from touring that would have allowed that injury to heal.

“Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications,” the statement reads.

“On a positive note we now know now know for certain he went painlessly and beautifully exhausted after doing what he love the most, for one last time, performing live with his unmatched rock band for his loyal fans on the biggest tour of his 40 plus year career.”

The statement is signed with the names Dana Petty and Adria Petty.

The Heartbreakers frontman passed away on October 2, 2017.

“He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived,” his manager, Tony Dimitriades, said in a statement that day. “He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”

Then today the Associated Press reported the cause of death was determined as an accidental drug overdose. Among the substances found in Petty’s body were two synthetic opioids: oxycodone and fentanyl.

The later was also found in the body of Prince, who died of an accidental drug overdose in April 2016.

Petty was 66 when he passed away. Prince was 57.

The fentanyl found in Petty's body was prescribed to him in the form of patches. Illicit fentanyl is the primary cause of a sharp increase in overdose deaths that’s occurred in British Columbia over the last five years.

In 2017, it’s estimated that more than 1,400 people in B.C. died of an illicit-drug overdose. More than 80 percent of those deaths were associated with fentanyl, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.