Drugs & Alcohol

Chester Bennington's autopsy shows he had a trace amount of alcohol in his system when he hanged himself ... TMZ has learned.

According to the autopsy and toxicology results, obtained by TMZ, the Linkin Park singer's blood also tested "presumptive positive" for MDMA (ecstasy) ... based on one test. Two subsequent tests did not detect the drug, and the ultimate conclusion was Chester was not under the influence of drugs when he died.

Authorities found a prescription bottle of Zolpidem -- generic Ambien -- on his dresser. There was also a pint glass of Corona, which was less than half full -- and an empty bottle of Stella Artois.

Police found pieces of fingernail underneath his iPhone and on a table in the bedroom. Chester's wife, Talinda, told cops he would do that when he was anxious. She said Chester had a history of depression and previous suicide attempts -- including one in 2006 when he left the house with a gun after drinking heavily.

Talinda added Chester was currently in an outpatient treatment program. A month before his death, Chester reportedly told friends he'd been sober for 6 months.

He'd been prescribed anti-depressants in the past, but had not taken them for more than a year ... according to Talinda.

TMZ broke the story ... Chester committed suicide July 20 by hanging himself. The report says he was found with a black Hugo Boss leather belt around his neck. He still had the boarding pass in his pocket from the flight he'd taken from Phoenix the day before his death.

There was no suicide note, but police found what they call an "apparent biography," which was handwritten.

Russia is BANNED from the '18 Winter Olympics after the country was caught running a MASSIVE doping scheme ... the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday.

Athletes from Russia -- across every sport -- won't be allowed to compete representing the nation, the Russian flag won't be flown, and officials from the country aren't welcome in PyeongChang, South Korea.

FYI -- Russian athletes -- who can prove they aren't doping -- can compete under a neutral flag ... meaning they aren't reppin' a country.

The IOC hit Russia with the unprecedented penalty after completing an independent investigation into the country for operating an expansive state-sponsored doping program ... that included widespread cheating in the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia.

The United States Olympic Committee addressed the punishment, saying ... "The IOC took a strong and principled decision. There were no perfect options, but this decision will clearly make it less likely that this ever happens again. Now it is time to look ahead to PyeongChang."

Rapper Don Q is one lucky son of a gun -- one day after getting busted for weapons and drugs, he strolled outta jail, much to the delight of his famous friend.

Q was arrested Thursday for felony possession of a .22 caliber Beretta and unlawful possession of a bag of weed. Law enforcement sources tell us cops found the pot in his underwear during a strip search.

Don drew a nice crowd of supporters -- including A Boogie -- during his arraignment, and they all must've left happy. He was released without bail, and is due back in court in February.

His attorney, Stacey Richman, tells us there was NO reason for the initial traffic stop, or for cops to search Q and his friends.

Aaron Carter will be heading to court for his Georgia DUI bust -- prosecutors have filed multiple charges against the singer ... just as he's ending his rehab for substance abuse.

Law enforcement sources in Habersham County say a DUI refusal charge was filed earlier this month. Prosecutors also added charges for possession of less than an oz. of marijuana and possession of drug-related objects. All the offenses are misdemeanors.

TMZ broke the story ... Aaron was arrested in July after cops stopped him and he bombed field sobriety tests. He refused a breathalyzer or blood tests.

Since then, Aaron's had other drug-related issues -- and actually just checked out of rehab after 2 months of treatment. He posted a photo of himself working on music, saying he's now "focused."

Larry King saw some smoke he liked, decided to take a puff and it was a horrible idea ... according to the ex-cable news guru himself.

We got Larry leaving Craig's Wednesday where he was talkin' possible Matt Lauer replacements -- but quickly got sidetracked by a woman with a vape pen. She told LK it was cucumber flavored -- which was more than enough to peak Larry's interest.

Just one puff is all it took to launch him into a coughing fit. Watch what happened when she tried to talk him into puff #2.

Kim Kardashian's mission to free Alice Marie Johnson is kicking into high gear ... and the 62-year-old grandmother has expressed her "deep and heartfelt gratitude."

According to a thank-you note from Alice to Kim, obtained by TMZ ... Alice was floored when she found out Kardashian had enlisted high-powered lawyer Shawn Holley to help with her case. Johnson is currently serving a life sentence for her involvement in a cocaine ring ... her first offense.

Alice wrote, "Ms. Kardashian you are literally helping to save my life and restore me to my family. I was drowning and you have thrown me a life jacket and given me hope."

Johnson also believes Kim's crusade will be a defining moment in history, and will show she was a "key figure in meaningful criminal justice reform becoming a reality."

Kim's not just focused on Johnson's case either -- she's also involved in the effort to free Cyntoia Brown, a Tennessee woman who killed a man who was allegedly using her as a sex slave when she was 16.

Kardashian and Holley are continuing to communicate with Johnson, Brown and their lawyers in order to develop the best plan for clemency.

And as Alice says ... "THE BATTLE IS ON!"

Imagine being a Packers fan in Wisconsin and having to bust one of the players for weed ... sucks, right!?

That's exactly what happened to a cop in Appleton, WI on Sept. 2 when she pulled over tight end Lance Kendricks, who was on the way home from a Wisconsin Badgers football game.

After Kendricks' car was stopped for going 81 in a 70, the officer immediately noticed the smell of weed and reports back to her partner ... saying, "You're not gonna wanna do this ... he's a Packers player."

Lil Peep's death is now the subject of a police investigation and some very troubling private messages are under the microscope ... TMZ has learned.

We've learned the Tucson PD has opened an investigation into Peep's apparent OD from less than 2 weeks ago.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police are interested in texts allegedly sent from a woman named Mariah Bons ... who we're told went to the tour bus to see Peep shortly before he died.

She allegedly sent a message to a friend that reads, "GBC [Lil Peep] high af because of me and my friend lol."

Bons also allegedly texted, "He passed the f*** out my brother called and I tried to get him to say hi to my brother but he wouldn't wake up ..."

TMZ broke the story ... cops are also investigating whether the Xanax Peep ingested was laced with fentanyl.

Lil Peep's death investigation has cops now looking to see if the powerful opioid fentanyl played a role in the rapper's death ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops in Tucson are on the hunt after receiving multiple tips the New York rapper got his hands on some incredibly toxic drugs laced with the potent opioid.

You'll recall fentanyl also contributed to the accidental ODs of Prince and Eric Chase Bolling Jr.

Cops know fentanyl is a problem in Tucson and beyond. What makes it especially dangerous is that even a tiny dose can kill ... especially someone who is not a regular opioid user.

As we reported ... Lil Peep's body was found on the bus last week with drug paraphernalia, Xanax, loose marijuana and an unknown tan powder.

Wisconsin State Patrol tells us Kendricks was not actually cited for marijuana during the stop. WSP says marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia charges have been "referred to the Outagamie County DA’s Office" who will decide whether to charge Kendricks.

Cops tell us they confiscated weed from LK's vehicle, however, he left the scene without a citation.

Green Bay Packers tight end Lance Kendricks was cited for having weed in his car back in September after getting pulled over for speeding ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... Kendricks was clocked going 81 in a 70 mph zone when he was on his way home from the Wisconsin Badgers football game on Sept. 2. According to the police report, the cop "could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle."

Cops say Kendricks apologized for the smell ... and after initially denying there were any drugs in the car, he later 'fessed up to having weed in the glove box.

Cops say they say also found a Louis Vuitton bag with a black glass container with a "green leafy substance," 2 packs of rolling papers, and a blue grinder.

Kendricks is facing 2 charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and was given a warning for speeding. The case is now in the hands of the Outagamie County District Attorney.

He isn't the first Packers player to have legal trouble fly under the radar ... running back Aaron Jones was arrested on October 1, which wasn't reported until this week.

Ethan Cutkosky -- who plays Carl Gallagher on "Shameless" -- has officially been charged with DUI ... but it doesn't look like the kid was boozing.

The Burbank City Attorney filed charges against Cutkosky this week. He's facing one count of misdemeanor DUI -- which is only tied to drugs, not alcohol. He also faces charges for traffic violations related to his driving the night he was busted.

We broke the story ... Cutkosky was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of DUI. Cops told us they smelled weed on him, and that he even fessed up to smoking.

Sources say Cutkosky, who's only 18, is facing up to 6 months in jail, a $1,000 fine and the loss of his license if convicted.

If we know Carl ... he's already looking at his legal options.

TMZ Sports has obtained video of Green Bay Packers rookie Aaron Jones' weed arrest ... showing the running back admitting he toked up before breakfast earlier that day.

Jones was initially pulled over around noon on October 1 for going 79 mph in a 55 when the officer smelled a strong odor and asked ...

"You gonna be straight with me or not gonna be straight with me? Weed."

Jones replied "I was smoking it."

"Yeahhh, there you go. I appreciate the honesty," the cop said.

Jones was then asked to take a field sobriety test ... which he bombed. Jones was cuffed and taken to a hospital for blood work.

Cassidy was just chillin' in a parked van outside his house when cops busted him -- which they say has more to do with the joint and baggie full of marijuana allegedly in the van.

The Philly MC was busted Sunday afternoon in Jersey City when police say they spotted him in the vehicle, and noticed a strong marijuana odor. Officers say there was a joint sitting in clear view on the dashboard. They also found a baggie of weed and a grinder, typically used to crush weed ... according to the police report.

Cassidy was booked for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Law enforcement tells us they discovered Cassidy has an outstanding warrant in another county -- for the exact same offenses. So, now he has 2 court dates ... for the old and new charges.

The lesson? Don't park and smoke. Allegedly.

MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan hates steroid users ... 'cause he just destroyed them all in a SCATHING letter to Hall of Fame voters BEGGING them to keep all the alleged dopers out.

Morgan was elected to the Hall in 1990, and it's clear he doesn't want to share it with any science projects, writing an open letter on behalf of all clean members of the hall.

It's long, but here are some of the most Tupac Hit-Em-Up style gems.

"We hope the day never comes when known steroid users are voted in to the Hall of Fame. They cheated. Steroid users don't belong there."

"The cheating that tainted an era now risks tainting the Hall of Fame too."

Pretty gangsta, we know, but nothing compared to the most potent bar from the salvo ... we like to call it "The Ultimatum."

"It's gotten to the point where Hall of Famers are saying if steroid users get in, they'll no longer come to Cooperstown for induction ceremonies or other events."

Lil Peep took a nap before his Tucson show and never woke up ... according to the police report.

Peep's manager says she saw the rapper early Wednesday on his tour bus and he appeared to be fine. She says Peep took a nap around 5:45 PM and when she checked on him a short time later he was snoring and breathing without issue. After being unable to wake him, she decided to let him sleep longer.

The report says when Peep's other manager checked on him later in the night, the rapper was completely unresponsive and his team began CPR.

Cops say when they arrived, they discovered several Xanax pills, loose marijuana and an unknown tan powder on the rapper's tour bus.

Lil Peep was just 21.

Diddy -- aka the man of a thousand names -- is gonna run into some issues if he wants to go slapping his new Brother Love alter ego on music and merch because there's already another BL in the game.

Rocker Larry Florman has been using the Brother Love alias since 2000 and has released 2 albums under the name. Florman told us he's shocked that he's the first to go after the trademark, considering he only did so a week ago after learning about Diddy infringing on the title.

It's also too late for wrestling's OG Brother Love, Bruce Prichard, who told us last week that he would be going after the trademark.

Unclear how far Diddy was planning on taking his own Brother Love alter ego. He told us last week it was just the booze talking when he decided to make the change.