First off, as a 90s rock kid this is totally sad. Soundgarden wasn't my favorite band but they still were awesome and unique musically from the rest. Audioslave was great as well.
I'm quite shocked and don't really know what to think. He played a sold out show and killed himself shortly after. Total contrast from say, Kurt Cobain, who was totally estranged from everyone, missing for days, using drugs constantly and eventually ended his life at home.
I don't think you can solely blame this on Ativan. This is a benzodiazepine, same class as Xanax - tranquilizer if you will, that helps with anxiety. Suicidal behavior is not common and taking a slightly higher dose is more or less going to make you a bit more tired.
IMO, him voluntarily taking (or asking someone else) an extra Ativan or two was likely to put him at ease before taking his own life. Cobain had Valium (same class of drugs) among other things in his system at his time of death as well. I think it's the same case here - he made up his mind and wanted to be calm in his final moments.
Though with Cobain, his death was far less puzzling - he was addicted to heroin, battled depression, lost family members to suicide etc.
Chris Cornell on the other hand seemed happy by all accounts, drug free, actively touring with his band. It kind of makes you wonder if maybe this is another Robin Williams type situation where perhaps he saw a doctor and they made a startling discovery and he realized his days were numbered. Or maybe his family life was bad, his marriage was shaky. Financial issues maybe. I'm at loss, he seemed to be very active musically so I'm curious how this will unfold.
