According to Aaron Carter's autopsy, difluoroethane — or compressed gas — is most often used for commercial and industrial purposes and has an intoxicating effect when inhaled, an act referred to as "huffing." Difluoroethane is also known to cause heart arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest. As mentioned, Carter had also taken alprazolam, or generic Xanax, a central nervous system depressant. Carter likely became incapacitated by those two substances, slipped under bathwater, and drowned, according to his autopsy.
In the past, Carter spoke openly about his many mental health challenges and substance use issues. In 2017, he appeared on the syndicated talk show "The Doctors" and tested positive for marijuana, opiates, hydrocodone, and benzodiazepines, and later said he checked himself in for mental health treatment, according to Entertainment Tonight. Carter sought substance use treatment on and off up until shortly before his death, TMZ also reports.
In a 2019 "The Doctors" return appearance, Carter revealed his many mental health challenges, including multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, acute anxiety, and manic depression, all treated with prescription medications, he said (via CNN reports). Carter reportedly missed an online rehab therapy session the night before he died. He was found dead when authorities performed a welfare check after fans grew concerned he'd relapsed.
Also in 2019, Carter came clean about the nature of his huffing addiction, a drug he was introduced to the drug by his sister, Leslie, who also died from an overdose in 2012. According to Carter, his huffing addiction began when he was just 16 years old.
