This is, as all deaths are, tragic, devastating loss — but somehow, even more so, because of his age (he should have had so many more years in which to live his life), and because of his talent (we will never know what he might have achieved had he been given the proverbial three-score-and-ten).
But it is, in this case, even more horrific — because it was so unnecessary.
The notice here indicates he was using methadone as part of his recovery.
But there is – and has been for almost a decade now (longer in Europe; about 8 years now in the US) — a much more effective (for most people in recovery from heroin or any of the opioids) protocol available; it is called, variously, Suboxone, Subutex, Buprenorphine.
Fully reliable figures on recovery from opiate/opioid addiction are hard to come by, for a number of reasons.
But historically, the success rate of recovery from opiate/opioid addiction has ranged from marginal at best to dismal — numbers of people able to stay clean-and-sober, free from relapse (picking up again), run between 2-3% at worst to maybe 15% at best.
But the long-term success rates for people using suboxone for detox and/or longer-term maintenance are hugely higher — again, it’s tough to get reliable, documented stats, but you’ll find numbers in the 50-90% ranges.
If you yourself, or anyone you know, has a problem with OxyContin (aka “hillbilly heroin” or “Rush Limbaugh’s substance of choice”), Percocet, Vicodin, or the big-H itself, PLEASE have them check into this protocol.
(I understand it’s a lot more prevalent and accessible on the coasts than in the midlands, so it might take some doing to find in much of the country. The difference in outcomes is worth the effort.)
The worlds of addiction and recovery are radically different now from what they were just a few years ago.
NOBODY should ever again die from an overdose, and nobody ever has to go thru hell in trying to beat an addiction.
Please make sure everyone you know who has, or might have, a problem hears about this.

This is the internet, so obligatory disclosure: I have no affiliation with or interest in any person, firm, or enterprise in the recovery, pharmaceutical, or health-care worlds; I am not paid or compensated in any way — cash or otherwise — by any such enterprise or person; I receive no incentives and gain no personal benefit from sharing this information.