Kylie Page, a 28-year-old adult film star, was found dead in her Hollywood apartment on June 25, making her the seventh porn star to die due to drug-related causes in the last three years.
Police performed a wellness check on Page after a friend reported that she hadn’t heard from her in a while. When they arrived, they found fentanyl and other drug-related products in her home. Authorities believe that Page died of an accidental drug overdose.
Amy-Marie Merrell described her as a “kind, loving, wonderful person.” Merrell is the co-executive of the Cupcake Girls, a non-profit that directs adult actors to mental health resources.
Numerous studies indicate that these habits are prevalent among adult female performers.
“Evidence suggests alcohol and drug use is higher among adult film performers — women in particular,” said Dr. Corita Grudzen in a study.
“Some developed drug habits as a result of their social network, and some used drugs as a means to cope with the stress, stigma, and emotional repercussions of their performing,” she added.
Female performers have also used these drugs to commit suicide, including 36-year-old Kagney Linn Karter, who died in 2024.
Other female performers who have died due to drug-related causes in the last six years include Angelina Please, Sophie Anderson, Sophia Leone and Jesse Jane.
“When talking about drug use, people will say, ‘Oh, well, they were in the adult entertainment industry — that’s why it happened,” Merrell said.
“But that’s oversimplifying the issue.”
”I think when it comes to drug use and why many people might turn to drugs for emotional support, folks in the adult industry aren’t all the same; people in the adult industry are not a monolith,” she added.