Legal highs contributed to death of woman (19)

A coronor has warned about the danger of drugs sold in head shops following the death of a young woman from an overdose of multiple drugs, including two products sold as so-called “legal highs”.

Kildare county coroner Prof Denis Cusack yesterday adjourned an inquest into the death of a 19- year-old student after evidence of the date of death and the contents of toxicology reports were opened in court.

Sophisticated toxicology reports received by the coroner last week revealed the presence of three non-prescription drugs in the woman’s system – heroin, mephedrone and butylone. Mephedrone and butylone are the active substances contained in products sold legally in head shops.

Prof Cusack said the woman died on November 17th, 2009, of “multiple drug toxicity”. She also had five prescription drugs in her system – zoplicone, diazepam, quetiapine, nordiazepam and venlafaxine.

“In accordance with the functions of the coroner’s court, I have drawn attention to the fact that this death was certainly contributed to, in terms of cause, by the taking of so-called legal high drugs. The two being mephedrone and butylone,” Prof Cusack told The Irish Times after yesterday’s hearing.

He said he would also notify the National Advisory Committee on Drugs of the facts of the case.

Prof Cusack confirmed it was the first time he had dealt with a case where it appeared so-called head-shop drugs were a contributory factor in the death.

“I do not know whether this is the first in Ireland. It is possible, but I’m not aware of any other report.”

The ability to test for such psychotropic substances in the blood and urine had only recently been developed, Prof Cusack said.

“The proper function of the coroner’s court is to draw attention to the dangers of these in what may be the first, or certainly one of the first fatalities in Ireland, where there was clear evidence of an association with mephedrone and butylone,” Prof Cusack said.

Mephedrone was present in the deceased woman’s blood at a concentration of 0.20mg per litre, while butylone was present at a concentration of less than 0.125mg per litre. The concentration of the two drugs in the urine was 38.6mg of mephedrone per litre and 1.18mg of butylone per litre. The inquest was adjourned pending the outcome of a Garda investigation.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern last week published legislation which will allow gardaí to prohibit the sale of head-shop products without having immediate recourse to the courts. It is expected to be passed before the Dáil’s summer recess.

The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill aims to curtail the activities of head shops and the sale of substances not controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Source: Elaine Edwards, The Irish Times, 22/06/2010