A 21-YEAR-OLD woman passed away after accidentally overdosing on prescribed medication, an inquest heard.
Chloe Caton passed away on June 1 as she slept on a mattress at the foot of her mum’s bed in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Chloe Caton, 21, was found dead at the foot of her mum’s bed on June 1, 2023BPM
Chloe, from nearby Kidsgrove, her mum Ami Caton were staying with Ami’s two grandchildren that night.
The dental receptionist had struggled with anxiety and depression leading up to her death, the inquest at Stoke Town Hall on November 1 heard.
In a statement, her mum Ami said: “She was an ex-smoker and a vape smoker. She was suffering from a bad cough in the week before her death.
“She had mentioned heart flutters but didn’t get to tell her GP. She was blue and cold when I woke up.
“My grandchildren’s mother called emergency services.”
Chloe was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem toxicology found she had diazepam, zopiclone, pregabalin and tapentadol in her system.
Diazepam is commonly used to treat anxiety, according to the NHS, as is pregabalin.
Zopiclone is a type of sleeping pill that can be taken for short-term treatment of severe insomnia.
Meanwhile, tapentadol is an opioid pain medication.
Chloe’s GP gave a statement, sharing that Chloe had taken sertraline — a type of antidepressant – in the past, but was struggling to sleep and was worried about losing her job due to lack of sleep.
As a result, she was prescribed zopiclone and diazepam to be used sparingly, due to zopiclone being addictive.
She had also been referred to local mental health team after previously saying she had some suicidal thoughts. She was last issued zopiclone on May 17.
Her GP, Dr Hannah Bradshaw, added: “As a practice we’re deeply saddened to hear about her passing.”
The inquest heard Chloe wasn’t prescribed pregabalin or tapentadol.
Her post-mortem gave her cause of death as zopiclone toxicity, with the other medications contributing to it.
Concluding the inquest, North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: “The cause of death was zopiclone toxicity.
“She died at an address on Rothesay Avenue on June 1, 2023.”
Her usual address was Medina Way, Kidsgrove.
Speaking at the time of her death, mum Ami said: “She was very bubbly. She was kind and caring and had the most infectious laugh on the planet.
“She was not just my daughter, she was my best friend. We had our ups and downs, but she was my world.
“She’s my world, my first-born and my first girl.”
She told how Chloe had been “belly-laughing” when watching Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn on ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent the night before she died.
You’re not alone
If you think you’re depressed or having suicidal thoughts, you don’t have to go through it alone.
There are a number of helplines you can call if you want to speak to someone – they’re staffed by trained people that are ready to listen to you.
Samaritans takes calls 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email [email protected] or visit some branches in person.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers a supportive listening service.
You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
If you live in England, you can call a local NHS urgent mental health helpline for support during a mental health crisis.
In Wales, you can contact NHS 111 and select option 2. This will put you through to an NHS helpline offering 24/7 urgent mental health support.
An inquest heard that Chloe had died due to zopiclone toxicity – she had been prescribed the drugs by her GP to sleepBPM
Mum Ami Caton said Chloe was ‘her world’BPM