Coroner in plea to young people after drugs death

8:28pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

A CORONER pleaded for young people to avoid drugs after an inquest heard a young woman died from a methadone overdose.

Samantha-Jo Slater, aged 21, was found collapsed on her bed at home by a friend, Steven Baxter, on June 9, 2007.

He called for an ambulance and paramedics pronounced her dead at 6pm.

Bolton Coroner’s Court heard Miss Slater was a fun loving woman but got into the wrong crowd as a teenager and starting to drink and use drugs. She regularly took cocaine, and amphetamines and had tried heroin.

In May 2007 she was referred to the drug rehabilitation team and was seen by them twice a week for drug testing and counselling.

She tested negative to all the tests, except two when cocaine was found.

On the night before her death she watched a DVD at her flat, in Devonshire Road, Atherton, with Mr Baxter and another friend.

Mr Baxter failed to attend the hearing but in a police statement he said Miss Slater was fine when he left the house.

He went back to see her the next day, June 9, but there was no answer at the house. He tried again later and found the back door of the flat open.

Mr Baxter went in and found her on the bed.

DC Lynne O’Brien, of Greater Manchester Police, told the inquest there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Miss Slater’s death.

Pathologist Dr James Harrison said Miss Slater had 600mg of methadone per litre of her blood. More than 400mg per litre is associated with fatalities.

He said: “She died from the toxic effects of excessive amounts of methadone.”

Recording a verdict of misadventure, deputy coroner Alan Walsh said: “To lose a life at 21 through methadone is a complete waste.

“I am very anxious people of her age do not take drugs that causes the loss of life. It’s a waste to society.”

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