Drug death accidental

A Palmerston North coroner has ruled out suicide in the death of a Feilding beneficiary who was found to have methadone and diazepam in his body.

Unemployed man Daniel Ken Jones, 26,  died in the Palmerston North Hospital’s intensive care unit on August 12 last year.

In his report into the death released yesterday, Palmerston North coroner Tim Scott said Mr Jones was admitted to hospital on August 9 after suffering a seizure at his home.

Mr Jones was on a methadone programme at the time of his death, but a ‘‘higher than anticipated’’ level of the drug was found in his blood, along with traces of diazepam, which was not prescribed.

Mr Scott said it was unlikely that the drugs were taken by mistake but there was no evidence to suggest Mr Jones was in a suicidal state.

He ruled that Mr Jones’ death was accidental and came about as a result of multiple drug toxicity (or overdose) of methadone and diazepam.

- © Fairfax NZ News