The tragedy of mental health and drugs in Prison as father of four is found dead in cell. « Dawn Willis sharing the News & Views of the Mentally Wealthy

The tragedy of mental health and drugs in Prison as father of four is found dead in cell. « Dawn Willis sharing the News & Views of the Mentally Wealthy: "Father of four Alan Ruddy was a sentenced inmate at Mag haberry Prison when he was found dead in his cell following an accidental drugs overdose on January 31, 2008.
The 29-year-old died after taking a cocktail of prescription and illegal drugs that had been smuggled into the jail, according to an investigation by the Prisoner Ombudsman.
Drug abuse in Northern Ireland’s jails has long been a major problem for the Northern Ireland Prison Service and, following the publication of yesterday’s report, Prisoner Ombudsman Pauline McCabe has called for a review of the Prison Service’s action plan to minimise the supply of drugs within its establishments.
Ms McCabe said that Mr Ruddy had not intended to take his own life but had “inadvertently overdosed by taking a large number of non-prescribed pills of unknown origin which combined with his prescribed medication to produce fatal effects.”
Mr Ruddy had a history of mental health problems and was suffering from epilepsy and depression. He was known to be a heavy drinker and also took illicit drugs. He had also been taking medication prescribed by his GP."