The mother of a 23-year-old Dublin man who died of a methadone overdose, having used the drug from his girlfriend's prescribed supply, yesterday called for greater control of the heroin substitute.
At an inquest into the death of Mr James Clarke, of Monksfield Grove, Clondalkin, at Dublin City Coroner's Court, Mrs Maeve Clarke said: "Those using methadone should be given it in a centre and have to take it there. It should not be given out to them to take home and to share with others."
Mrs Clarke added that her son had complained of chest pains and had been taken to hospital from work about a month before his death. But she was sure he did not dabble in drugs. "He didn't have the money. He was paying for a car. He got up early, went to work, came home, had a wash, collected me and went to see his girlfriend," she said.
The inquest heard that Mr Clarke collapsed in his girlfriend's home and was dead on admission to St James's Hospital on May 26th. A post mortem examination showed he died of aspiration of gastric contents and the methadone in his blood was within the fatal range.
Ms Lorraine Hogan said she was going out with Mr Clarke for about two months. They smoked heroin a few times together. On the evening before his death they went for a drive. She took 150 mls of her prescribed methadone and he also took some. He told her he had taken methadone before.
She added Mr Clarke was drowsy during the drive back to her house and decided to stay over. Next morning she couldn't wake him and there was froth around his mouth.
Garda Chris Carroll, Clondalkin, said the case was a very tragic one and the investigation had to be very delicate. Initially Ms Hogan was not co-operative as she feared she would be prosecuted.
Returning a verdict of death by misadventure, the Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he understood new regulations on the distribution of methadone had come into effect recently.