A 21-YEAR-OLD woman was found dead by her mum after overdosing on prescribed medication, an inquest heard.
Chloe Caton passed away on June 1 as she slept on a mattress at the foot of her mum’s bed in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
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Chloe, from nearby Kidsgrove, and her mum, Ami Caton, were staying with Ami’s two grandchildren that night.
The dental receptionist had struggled with anxiety and depression leading up to her death, the inquest at Stoke Town Hall on November 1 heard.
In a statement, her mum Ami said: “She was an ex-smoker and a vape smoker. She was suffering from a bad cough in the week before her death.
“She had mentioned heart flutters but didn’t get to tell her GP. She was blue and cold when I woke up.
“My grandchildren’s mother called emergency services.”
Chloe was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem toxicology found she had medications to treat anxiety and insomnia in her system.
Chloe’s GP gave a statement, sharing that Chloe had been prescribed antidepressants in the past, but was struggling to sleep and was worried about losing her job due to lack of sleep.
As a result, she was prescribed anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills, the latter to be used sparingly as it is addictive.
She had also been referred to local mental health team after previously saying she had some suicidal thoughts.
Her GP, Dr Hannah Bradshaw, added: “As a practice we’re deeply saddened to hear about her passing.”
The inquest heard Chloe was not prescribed two of the medications in her system.
Her post-mortem gave her cause of death as zopiclone toxicity, with the other medications as contributory factors.
Concluding the inquest, North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: “She died at an address on Rothesay Avenue on June 1, 2023.”
You’re not alone
If you think you’re depressed or having suicidal thoughts, you don’t have to go through it alone.
There are a number of helplines you can call if you want to speak to someone – they’re staffed by trained people that are ready to listen to you.
Samaritans takes calls 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email [email protected] or visit some branches in person.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers a supportive listening service.
You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
If you live in England, you can call a local NHS urgent mental health helpline for support during a mental health crisis.
In Wales, you can contact NHS 111 and select option 2. This will put you through to an NHS helpline offering 24/7 urgent mental health support.
Speaking at the time of her death, mum Ami said: “She was very bubbly. She was kind and caring and had the most infectious laugh on the planet.
“She was not just my daughter, she was my best friend. We had our ups and downs, but she was my world.
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“She’s my world, my first-born and my first girl.”
She told how Chloe had been “belly-laughing” when watching Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn on ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent the night before she died.
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