oxycodone and other pain killers like it are what's called central nervous system or cns depressants.hey slow down the body's vital functions, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure. that's not usually a problem when the pills are prescribed for you. but when you add them to other cns depressants, like alcohol or other prescription drugs, the effect is multiplied. the nervous system slows and is slows until breathing, heart rate, brain function, all grind to a halt. ben's deadly dose, according to his girlfriend, was drinking beer and scotch throughout the day, along with an unknown quantity of oxycodone. ben fell asleep in front of the tv. and by the next morning, he had stopped breathing. >> it's almost what makes it even more frightening. that he went to sleep and he had no idea this was going to be his last night on earth. he had no idea this was going to be it. >> you explained what happened to my friend to me in two sentences. >> i first learned about ben gupta's story when i got a phone call just after his death from former president bill clinton. ben's father is an old friend o

these drugs are central nervous system, or cns, depressants. they slow down the body's vital functions, breathing, heart rate blood pressure. that's not usually a problem when the pills are prescribed for you. but when you add them to other cns depressants like alcohol or other prescription drugs, the effect is multiplied. the nervous system slows and slows until breathing, heart rate, brain function all grind to a halt. ben's deadly dose, according to his girlfriend, was drinking beer and scotch throughout the day along with an unknown quantity of oxycodone. when his blood alcohol level was tested, it registered 0.04. that's relatively low, less than half the legal limit. here's the implication -- it may not take much alcohol to tip the balance toward death. ben fell asleep in front of the tv, and, by the next morning, he had stopped breathing. >> it's almost what makes it even more frightening, that he went to sleep and he had no idea this was going to be his last night on earth. i mean, he had no idea that this was going to be it. >> it just