Barrow mum Stephanie Smith died of drug-related death - inquest

Stephanie Smith was found dead at her home in Wordsworth Street in Barrow in the early hours of June 10.

The 35-year-old was a cherished mum, daughter, sister and friend, an inquest held yesterday at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court was told.

The court heard Miss Smith met up with her friend, Lauren Johnson, on the day before her tragic death.

In a statement read out to court, Ms Johnson said her friend appeared ‘drowsy’ at their meeting and admitted to taking the drug fentanyl.

“I didn’t have a clue what it was and asked her where she got it from,” Ms Johnson said.

Ms Johnson said she had seen her friend in a similar state before and ‘wasn’t concerned’, the court heard.

After Miss Smith’s son returned from school later that day, his mum was not at home but she returned an hour later ‘acting a bit strange’.

The court was told he stayed in his room playing games until 10pm and went to the shop for around 20 minutes.

He believed his mum had gone out, the court heard, and two hours later a friend, Stuart Gelling, arrived.

Miss Smith’s son told the court that he went into the back room and found his mum lying cross-legged on the floor. He said he had found her in this state previously and believed she was asleep.

However, in attempts to rouse her awake, he saw her skin had turned blue and there was sick around her mouth, the court heard.

He said he ran upstairs to retrieve his phone and called an ambulance.

However, Mr Gelling told the court that he was the one who had found Miss Smith unresponsive in the flat and shouted to her son to call an ambulance.

Police said there was some discrepancies between Miss Smith’s son’s account of event and others which is ‘understandable’ considering the circumstances.

Emergency services were called and found Miss Smith ‘slumped forward and unresponsive’. Her death was confirmed by paramedics at 1.41am.

Police told the court they believed Miss Smith placed a fentanyl patch in her mouth of her own accord which she had then swallowed by accident.

Officers seized drugs, an unknown powder and medicine from the house, the court heard.

Miss Smith had been referred to Recovery Steps Cumbria in 2020 for drug and alcohol misuse and told the addiction facility that she needed help and support regarding her use of cocaine and pregabalin.

Miss Smith had been prescribed methadone to help with her codeine addiction, the court was told, but told Recovery Steps in February that she wished to detox from opiates.

Miss Smith had also engaged with the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust community mental health team on numerous occasions after suffering with suicidal thoughts, the court heard.

A toxicology report found the presence of multiple substances at the time of Miss Smith’s death, most notably was pregabalin and fentanyl. The cause of death was recorded as multiple drug toxicity.

Miss Smith was described as a ‘beautiful, kind and loyal’ person by her mum Lynne Hackett in a statement read out to the court.

Miss Smith, who had two sisters Barbara and Sharon, had attended Furness College to study hairdressing and gained her level one diploma.

After leaving college, she gained a job at Morrisons and continued her hairdressing on a freelance basis.

She then worked at the Bay Horse in Barrow, however, was suffering from back pain which became a big part of her life.

She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia: a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body and also struggled with mental health difficulties.

She was prescribed mood stabilisers for a personality disorder and pregabalin for depression.

At the age of 18, Miss Smith welcomed a son. She met a new partner, but it was ‘not a good relationship’, her mum told her court, and she began drinking more frequently and taking large amount of prescription medication.

Miss Smith’s son was her ‘absolute world’, Ms Hackett said, and she ‘loved him to pieces.

“She would always do her best for him regardless of her own pain and suffering she was feeling,” Ms Hackett said.

“She was a fantastic mother and was the most beautiful, kind and loyal mum.

“Steph had an infectious personality.

“She was independent and quite confident. She had a good heart and would do anything for anyone.”

Sharon, Stephanie’s sister, said: “She touched so many hearts. She didn’t realise how beautiful she was. She could brighten up any room.

“She loved her son immensely and was an amazing and loving mother.”

Coroner Robert Cohen recorded a verdict of a drug-related death.

If you need support with addiction, contact Recovery Steps Cumbria on 01900 512300.