Former healthcare worker Katrina Glynn, 34, swallowed a mix of pills
A mother-of-three who struggled to sleep at night accidentally killed herself with a lethal cocktail of prescription tablets in what a coroner branded a ‘game of chemical Russian Roulette.’
Former healthcare worker Katrina Glynn, 34, swallowed a mix of pills including paracetomol and temazapam after suffering from bouts of anxiety and sleeplessness when her partner was away working on the oil rigs.
Last August she was found dead on her couch by her niece at home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, with tests showing she had painkillers including morphine plus beta blockers, anti-sickness and anti depressant tablets in her system.
At an inquest coroner Tim Brennand ruled out suicide and warned of the dangers of taking too much prescription medication.
Recording a conclusion of drug related death Mr Brennand said: ‘Sadly she was consumed in a battle with her demons and at the age of 34, this truly was a tragedy as she was described as a fighter showing potential, and a vigour and zest for life.
‘I do not believe this was suicide as she was making arrangements for her boyfriend’s arrival and she was looking forward to plans with her family the following weekend. She had self administered medication and she may have had a tolerance to some of the drugs taken.
‘But I believe the cocktail of the medication had a profound affect. These were not illicit, or street, drugs, they were prescribed medication for a third party. The real danger is in relation to the use of medication that has the potential to kill.
‘Some people may feel they have complete control to understanding their effects but this is a case of someone living in a game of chemical Russian roulette.’
The hearing was told Miss Glynn had a history of severe anxiety and post natal depression and as a result took a number of different prescribed medication to help her manage her problems. She became a health care support worker at Bolton hospital in 2010 but left in 2013 when she fell pregnant with her third child.
Her mother Janet said: ‘She found a new relationship with a man who worked in the oil rigs which meant that he would be away from home and this further aggravated her depression and anxiety.
‘On Wednesday 2nd August she came round and asked us to take some stuff home. Her boyfriend was coming home the following day and she wanted to bring her washing round to our house and wanted to clean up to make sure it looked nice for when he came back.
The hearing was told Miss Glynn had a history of severe anxiety and post natal depression and as a result took a number of different prescribed medication to help her manage her problems
‘She was really looking forward to him coming home. She seemed absolutely fine. She left at 6:30pm. At 10:30pm I had a call from her and she asked if she could take some pillows for her partner when he came back. She came round at about 11. She asked to take some paracetamol. I agreed. She expressed to my partner how happy she was and how excited she was.
‘She said she loved her family and she was going to be fine walking home. She also confirmed that she wanted to come out with us at the weekend for a meal and was looking forward to it.
‘The next morning I sent her a text and thought it was weird that she didn’t message me back straight away, but I thought nothing of it. A little while later I had a number of missed calls from her boyfriend. Nobody could get hold of her. We then got the call from the police.
Pathologist Emil Salmo carried out a toxicology report which showed Miss Glynn had ‘three forms’ of morphine in her blood as well as paracetamol, propranolol, cyclizine, citralopran, pronaxen and temazepam
‘She would never do this on purpose, she loved her children so much and she was worried about what would happen to them if she ever died. I don’t think she intended to take her own life. I think this was an accident.
‘She struggled to sleep a lot. We knew she had an addictive personality. She was really looking forward to her boyfriend oming home and had tidied everywhere for his return. She didn’t plan to do this, she never expressed suicide or self harm.’
Matthew Miller, Miss Glynn’s psychiatrist who treated her in October 2016, said: ‘I diagnosed her with anxiety and depression. I do believe she had an emotional unstable personality disorder and she had sleep disturbance.
‘She said she had a good relationship with her children and I don’t believe she was suicidal and she didn’t show signs of self harm. She just wanted to sleep.’
Pathologist Emil Salmo carried out a toxicology report which showed Miss Glynn had ‘three forms’ of morphine in her blood as well as paracetamol, propranolol, cyclizine, citralopran, pronaxen and temazepam.