THE death of a 23-year-old man at his Haltwhistle home was due to 'multi-drug toxicity', an inquest heard.

Michael Moorhead, known as Mikey, died at his home at Park View Chambers on March 15, 2021.

Northumberland coroner Andrew Hetherington recorded a conclusion that his death was drug-related at an inquest held at County Hall in Morpeth yesterday (May 18).

At around 9pm the night before his death Mikey's girlfriend became aware that he was sleepy after taking Valium, the inquest heard.

After the pair then had an argument over him taking this, he went to sleep upstairs while his girlfriend slept on the sofa.

When she woke up at 9.15am the next morning, she found himnot breathing.

A toxicology report found Mikey had high and fatal levels of morphine and codeine which derived from heroin in his system, along with high levels of etizolam and tramadol.

A police officer who attended Mikey's address after his death told the inquest she found a couple of items of drug paraphernalia in the property, along with bottles of methadone.

Mikey had a history of illicit drug use, the inquest heard.

The hearing was also told Mikey had been involved in a car accident a few years before his death, resulting in a long-term back injury which he took codeine for.

An individual was investigated for the supply of drugs but the evidence did not meet the CPS' threshold, the inquest heard.