THE family of an overdose victim told a coroner that users of the heroin substitute methadone should be made to take it in front of a doctor or pharmacist to prevent it being stockpiled.

An inquest heard that John Anthony Barrow, 50, of Saxon Street, Burnley, was found dead by his 12-year-old daughter Natalie after a methadone overdose. Police found two empty methadone bottles in the house with his name on the labels.

A larger bottle three-quarters full of a green liquid was in the fridge.

Detective Constable Mark Goodchild said methadone abuse in Burnley was commonplace and people accumulated the drug and put it into larger bottles.

Pathologist Dr W D Salman said patients were often instructed to drink it in front of the chemist but it depended on the reliability of the patient.

Susan Marie Barrow, of Griffin Close, Burnley, said her brother was divorced and a property repairer although he had not worked for a long time.

She last saw him on December 30 when he called at her home after being in hospital following some kind of overdose. He had discharged himself because he believed police were looking for him about an unpaid £50 fine from 20 years ago. He was given the money by the family and left saying he was going to the police station to pay the fine and was found dead on January 5.

East Lancashire coroner David Smith read a statement by Mr Barrow's daughter Natalie McMillan, of Otterburn Grove, Burnley.

She said she found him lying on his back in his kitchen.

During the hearing another of Mr Barrow's sisters, sitting at the back of the court, asked why methadone was prescribed in such quantities that people were being killed by it and said all patients should be forced to drink it in front of a chemist.

The coroner said "Police have a terrible difficulty in trying to discover the suppliers. I realise how upsetting this is. We all know it is easy to get drugs in Burnley and police are doing their best to try to fight it."

Recording a verdict of misadventure Mr Smith said there was no question of Mr Barrow wanting to end his life.

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