A woman was found on the floor of her bedroom having taken a drug overdose, an inquest has heard.

Susan Howarth, 53, was found by her friend Mark Jackson at her home in Burnley on June 14 after he had noticed she had fallen out of bed during the night.

Mr Jackson ran to get help and contacted the emergency services. Police attended and confirmed Susan had died, though there were no suspicious circumstances.

A statement given to the court at Accrington Town Hall from Susan’s mother, Rita Carroll, said Susan was in poor health and was using drugs and alcohol on a daily basis.

Alison Ashcroft, from Inspire, said at the time of her death Susan was using crack cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepine, pregabalin, and was prescribed with methadone.

Susan’s GP, Dr Martin Astall, said she had a long history of substance misuse first recorded in 1998.

A toxicology report taken at Sheffield Teaching Hospital showed use of pregabalin and other drugs which may have enhanced the toxic effects of the methadone. The use of cocaine may have also had a detrimental effect on cardiac function.

A medical cause of death of methadone toxicity was recorded by Coroner Richard Taylor, who said: “Susan Howarth died at her home on June 14 having ingested an excess of drugs.”

Mr Taylor recorded a conclusion of drug-related death.