Dee Dee Ramone left the band in 1989 and worked on other projects over the years, including writing his autobiography, "Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones" (2000). He was very candid in his book about his past struggles with substance abuse, revealing that he had used both LSD and heroin (via The New York Times). Ramone married his wife Barbara Zampini in 1997, and she was the one to discover him in their Hollywood home unresponsive on June 5, 2002. Paramedics were unable to revive him. Ramone was found lying face down over the arm of their couch, and there was some evidence of drug use at the scene (via Autopsy Files).
There was a syringe found in the kitchen, and a spoon with likely drug traces on it. Five balloons possibly containing drugs were discovered near the body (via MTV). According to the autopsy report, a needle mark was found on his arm. This is probably how Ramone administered what proved to be a fatal dose of heroin. The report also shows that medical responders had tried to revive Ramone, inserting an IV line in his arm and placing an endotracheal tube in his throat. His death was determined to be an accidental overdose.
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