Drugs found in Whitney Houston's system

Whitney Houston's sister-in-law and manager issued a statement saying they are thankful to finally know how the singer died.

"We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure," said Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager, in a statement to the Associated Press.

Patricia Houston told Winfrey she raced to Houston's room after hearing an assistant screaming and crying. She found her brother Ray over Houston, frantically trying to revive her. Houston was out of the bathtub and on the floor, she said, but Patricia Houston said she was unsure how she got there.

"The paramedics were coming in at that point. I said, 'Ray, let it go.' He was so out of breath. I felt so badly for him," Patricia Houston said, according to a transcript of the interview.

She was able to see Houston before paramedics arrived moments later.

"She had a peaceful look on her face," Patricia Houston said.

The coroner's report released Thursday determined that Whitney Houston died accidentally as the result of drowning. The coroner said heart disease and cocaine use were also factors. Toxicology tests showed a cocktail of drugs in the pop star's system. Traces of marijuana, Xanax, Flexeril and Benadryl were also found, but officials concluded that those drugs did not contribute to her death.

No cocaine was retrieved from the Beverly Hills hotel room where Whitney Houston died even though toxicology tests found the drug in her system, coroner's officials said.

Ed Winter, deputy chief of the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said several bottles of pills were recovered - but no cocaine. Winter said the amounts of cocaine and other drugs in her system will not be known for a few more weeks.

Experts have told The Times that it will probably take time for investigators to sort out Houston's medical history and prescription drug inventory.

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Drugs found in Whitney Houston's system