Houston had cocaine in her system

Whitney Houston died at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11 (AP)
5 April 2012

Whitney Houston was found face-down in a bathtub with cocaine in her system and drug paraphernalia on the bathroom counter nearby, investigators revealed in the singer's final post-mortem report.

The report delivered a grim accounting of Houston's final hours nearly three months ago.

The singer complained of a sore throat before an assistant suggested she take a bath before the start of a pre-Grammy Awards gala. By the time the assistant returned, Houston had drowned and was lying face down in the tub.

Investigators who scoured the room later found in the bathroom a "spoon with a white crystal like substance in it", and a white powdery substance in a drawer and on a mirror, according the report.

The report does not specifically identify the substances as cocaine, although toxicology tests discovered the drug in Houston's heart and extremities.

The report provides a sad footnote to Houston's life, revealing the toll the singer's drug use took on her body.

When coroner's officials said two weeks ago that Houston died from accidental drowning, they also revealed that cocaine had played a role in her death.

The office has said there were signs of both chronic and recent use. An investigator noted a hole in the singer's nose, listed under "history of substance abuse".

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said he could not discuss how recently Houston may have used cocaine, or other details of the final report.

Beverly Hills police Lieutenant Mark Rosen said the investigation is still open and he could not comment on the findings. The department has said there did not appear to be signs of foul play.

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