Drug addict died of heroin overdose

Jan 10 2008 by Emma Davison, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DRUG addict who died from a heroin overdose was on a programme to help him kick the habit, an inquest heard.

Simon Yardley, 33, was found dead surrounded by drug paraphernalia at his home on School Street in Birstall on August 29 last year. Yesterday’s inquest in Huddersfield heard that he had been trying to get clean on a methadone programme being run by Lifeline Kirklees.

Mr Yardley, who was unemployed, was found slumped in his bathroom surrounded by a kit used to inject heroin, including lighters, a metal spoon and citric acid, which is used to breakdown the drug.

He had bruising to his groin where he had injected himself and was discovered by the brother of his partner.

A post-mortem examination revealed that he died due to the toxic effects of heroin, which had been enhanced by the levels of methadone in his bloodstream. Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict of death caused by an overdose.