She manufactured, sold, consumed and died of date-rape drug. That is a tragic story from Britain.
She manufactured, sold, consumed and died of date-rape drug. That is a tragic story from Britain.
The death of Sarah O’Dowd, felled in the prime of her life, she was only 24, could be a sobering lesson on drug abuse.
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
To marshal worldwide support for the control of drugs, the 26th of June every year is devoted to the cause, known as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
To marshal worldwide support for the control of drugs, the 26th of June every year is devoted to the cause, known as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
She is believed to have fallen asleep in the tub after taking a dangerous combination of the 'date-rape' drug Gamma-butyrolactone, known as GBL, and Ketamine, an anaesthetic abused by clubbers, an inquest heard last week.
Her husband Liam woke up to hear the taps running and found his wife's body when he went to investigate in October last year.
He pulled her out of the water and attempted resuscitation but she was already dead.
The inquest was told the couple ran a mail-order business, manufacturing and selling the legal but dangerous 'party drug' GBL.
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Drug Abuse Screening Test
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is a screening test to find out if you need professional help with ‘Drug Abuse’ problem. This is only an anonymous self test.
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is a screening test to find out if you need professional help with ‘Drug Abuse’ problem. This is only an anonymous self test.
O'Dowd was initially questioned by police on suspicion of murder over the death of his newlywed wife at home in Holt Park, Leeds. But he was cleared of any blame following a detailed investigation by West Yorkshire Police.
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Healthy Towns Initiative to Tackle Alcohol Issues in UK
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced the formation of the National Alcohol Support Team, which is tasked with helping towns that have a high number of drink related health issues.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced the formation of the National Alcohol Support Team, which is tasked with helping towns that have a high number of drink related health issues.
He said: 'Mr and Mrs O'Dowd had an interest in a business involved in the manufacture of this drug GBL, which was the source of the drug found in this lady's body. They both acknowledge they used the GBL drug themselves in the past.'
Mrs O'Dowd may have taken GBL the previous evening to help her get some sleep as she was in pain from a bladder condition, the hearing was told.
Her husband told police his wife did most of the running of the mail-order business. After he was interviewed, detectives were satisfied with his story and took no further action.
The inquest heard Mrs O'Dowd often drank large amounts of alcohol and the couple had previously used cocaine, ketamine, Ecstasy and GHB - the class C drug which GBL turns into once in the blood stream.
On the day of her death, friend David Doherty received a panic-stricken call from O'Dowd to say his wife had died. 'He was crying and in shock,' said Doherty, who arrived at his friend's house a few minutes after the call.
He described Mrs O'Dowd as 'feisty and friendly' but a big drinker. 'In my opinion she took drugs in excess. She took drugs at all times of the day.'
The coroner recorded an open verdict. He said the cause of death was drowning, coupled with GHB and ketamine intoxication.
But Manning added: 'I cannot say for certain she died from the drugs or intended to cause her own death. She was newly-married and had everything to live for.'
Last week the Government revealed plans to ban GBL, which has been widely used in the plastics industry and legally available over the internet, Daily Mail reports.
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