Pubdate: Mon, 02 Dec 2002
Source: Evening Star, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002, Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/Content/news/news_home.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1695
Author: Staff

WARNING AFTER DRUGS DEATH

DRUGS takers have been warned by a Suffolk coroner that they just do
not know what they are taking.

His warning came following the inquest into the death of 36-year-old
Timothy Harbour. Mr Harbour, a heroin addict for 15 years, was found
dead by his mother Kathleen on October 7.

Greater Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean recorded a verdict of accidental
death and warned other users about the perils of drugs following Mr
Harbour's overdose.

The inquest at Suffolk County Hall today heard how Mr Harbour, from
Clifton Wood, in Holbrook, had a concoction of drugs in his stomach.

Toxicologists found methadone, heroine and cocaine in his system.
Doctor Dean said that the message needed to be got across that people
just do not know what they are buying from dealers and death can be
the result.

He said: "There seems to be nothing out of the ordinary in Timothy's
behaviour that day. It seems to be a tragic accident following the
taking of drugs. I cannot emphasise enough the extreme dangers of drugs use."

In a statement to the court Mr Harbour's mother Kathleen told how her
son had tried to come off heroine several times but had failed. She
said the day before he died he had been up earlier than normal
speaking to his 14-year-old nephew about his computer hobby and wood
carving.

He went out around midnight and came in at around 2am.

The next morning Mrs Harbour went out and on her return took her son
some lunch to his room at around 2.30pm.

The statement read: "His music was on and his bedroom was still on,
which was strange. I realised something was wrong. When I went in the
duvet was up around him and his head was covered."

It was from her nurse training that Mrs Harbour realised her son was
dead. The police were called and an investigation began but the people
who sold the drugs to Mr Harbour have yet to be found.
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