Cause of Death
Janis Joplin died on October 4, 1970, from a heroin overdose. The autopsy found that she had used heroin shortly before her death, which caused respiratory failure and stopped her breathing.
Circumstances Before Her Death
In the days before she died, Joplin was using heroin again after a period of abstinence. Her tolerance had dropped, and a dose that might have been manageable for a regular user proved fatal for her.
Legacy and Context
Joplin was one of the most influential rock and blues singers of the 1960s. Her death at age 27 placed her among the musicians commonly referred to as the 27 Club. For more background on her career, see Janis Joplin biography.
