Yes, Michael took painkillers and became addicted in 1993. However, he managed to break the habit, and it was not until 1997 that reports surfaced again indicating he was being treated with Demerol for sleep problems. In the song, Michael berates himself in endless tirades of hate.
It was just a brief aside in the Michael movie, but I’ve listened to "Morphine" differently ever since. I used to think the song was inspired by Michael’s time in rehab in 1993, but now I realize there’s more to it, it levels a veiled accusation against the doctors. Mini 🧵