Stark warning after head shop drug is linked to death

A CORONER has warned of the dangers of head shops after the first death linked directly to the use of so-called “legal highs” came before the coroner’s court.

Last November, 19-year-old student Laura Hayes was found dead in her bed. A toxicology report discovered she had a cocktail of prescription drugs, heroin and the then legal drug mephedrone, an amphetamine and butylone, a psychedelic substance, in her system.

Professor Denis Cusack at Kildare Coroner’s Court said the cause of death was “multiple toxicity” and it was the first time a death to which head shop drugs had contributed had come before a coroner’s court.