Harry Morton was hooked on the powerful hallucinogenic super-drug ayahuasca, which was once used and praised by his ex-girlfriend Lindsay Lohan, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
Morton, the son of Hard Rock Café co founder Peter Morton, died Saturday after he was found unresponsive by a family member at his Beverly Hills home.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery while an autopsy is pending.
But friends of the 38-year-old business owner have told DailyMail.com that Morton was a well-known drug user with a particular fondness of ayahuasca – a ‘psychedelic brew’ made from tropical vines and leaves from the Amazon jungle.
Actress Lohan, who dated Morton in 2006, credited the drug with helping her cope with a miscarriage, saying in 2014: ‘I did ayahuasca, it changed my life … [I let go of the] wreckage of my past.’
Harry Morton was hooked on the powerful hallucinogenic super-drug ayahuasca, which was once used and praised by his ex Lindsay Lohan, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal
Ayahuasca is a ‘psychedelic brew’ made from tropical vines and leaves of the Amazon jungle and distorts brain waves to create a vivid ‘waking-dream’ state
A friend of Morton’s, speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, said: ‘We’ve all been concerned over Harry’s use of ayahuasca for some time, he was hooked on the stuff.
‘He always thought it was safe and natural but he was definitely over using it.
‘It’s still too early to know exactly how Harry died, but because he was so young his friends and family fear it’s drug related – only time will tell.’
The friend added: ‘Harry’s sister died of a drug overdose so it would be an absolute tragedy if Harry went the same way.’
Harry’s half-sister, the model turned bounty hunter Domino Harvey, died aged 35 of an overdose of the painkiller drug fentanyl in 2005.
She had been found unconscious in a bathtub by her aide.
The hip Hollywood drug ayahuasca is prepared as a tea from a number of different plant species, some of which include the psychedelic chemical, dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, and it distorts brain waves to create a vivid ‘waking-dream’ state.
A friend of Morton’s, speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, said: ‘We’ve all been concerned over Harry’s use of ayahuasca for some time, he was hooked on the stuff. He always thought it was safe and natural but he was definitely over using it.’ Pictured: Morton with his brother Matthew in 2014
The brew is popular with celebrities with the likes of Sting, Chelsea Handler and Lohan having sampled it and spoken out about their experience.
Despite its popularity, the potent drug was blamed for the untimely death of banking heir Matthew Mellon, the ex-husband of Jimmy Choo guru Tamara Mellon, in April 2018.
The 53-year-old billionaire died of a heart attack after taking ayahuasca in a Mexican rehab facility.
Morton is survived by both of his parents, Peter Morton and Paulene Stone.
His ex Lohan paid tribute to Morton with a touching Instagram post.
She shared a black and white Instagram photo of them together at the Venice Film Festival with the caption: ‘Best friends. Best life.’
But friends of Morton, who has also dated Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton over the years, are less than impressed.
![Lohan, who dated Morton in 2006, credited the drug with helping her cope with a miscarriage, saying: 'I did ayahuasca, it changed my life ... [I let go of the] wreckage of my past.' She paid tribute to Morton, sharing a photo of them at the Venice Film Festival in 2006](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/25/02/21422078-7720671-image-m-10_1574648709271.jpg)
Lohan, who dated Morton in 2006, credited the drug with helping her cope with a miscarriage, saying: ‘I did ayahuasca, it changed my life … [I let go of the] wreckage of my past.’ She paid tribute to Morton, sharing a photo of them at the Venice Film Festival in 2006
Friends of Morton, who has also dated Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton over the years, are less than impressed with Lohan. The friend said: ‘Lohan is jumping on the band wagon to pay tribute to Harry when she represented a dark time in his life. It’s upsetting for those close to him’
The friend said: ‘Lohan is jumping on the band wagon to pay tribute to Harry when she represented a dark time in his life. It’s upsetting for those close to him.’
Harry founded the popular restaurant chain Pink Taco when he was just 18 years old, which is frequented by celebrity customers including comedian Russell Brand and actor Johnny Depp.
He came from a long line of famous restaurateurs. His father co-founded the Hard Rock Café in 1971 and his grandfather, Arnie, co-founded Morton’s Steakhouse in 1978.
On Sunday it emerged that Harry’s younger brother, Matthew, found him unresponsive in his Beverly Hills home, a source told People magazine.
No foul play is suspected and an autopsy report remains pending.