Charlotte Dawson may have been taking a black-market prescription drug in the lead up to her tragic death by suicide.
As Caroline Overington at the Australian Women’s Weekly reports, friends and family of the late, beautiful Charlotte knew she was on the drug Baclofen.
Balcofen is used for multiple sclerosis but like so many prescription medications, it’s often used (without permission) for other conditions. It’s supposed to help alcoholics recover, for instance – which is why Charlotte was allegedly taking it.
There are now whispers that the drug may have affected Charlotte’s mental state. As we know, Charlotte was clinically depressed and suffered a long, private battle with the illness in the glare of public scrutiny. None of us will truly know what went on in Charlotte’s head when she took her own life, but if an untested drug had anything to do with it, we need to know.
Baclofen has potentially had tragic consequences before.
Last year, the drug was linked to the death of British publicist, Anna Sargent. Anna’s body was found in the Thames after she reportedly threw herself off a bridge. She was known to be taking Baclofen — like Charlotte, to help with her alcohol problem.
That link was determined by a British coroner. The link between Baclofen and Charlotte Dawson has yet to be properly proved, but this possible development will surely add to the grief her many friends and family are still feeling.
These revelations are part of an extensive investigation by the Australian Women’s Weekly. To read the whole report, buy the July issue, on stands today.
Top Comments
Good to see you corrected NEARLY all the misspelt Baclofens...
As someone who has just been released from suicide watch, if I was taking meds not prescribed for me (which I do) I'm not worried if they're going to worsen my condition. When you're down in the mire and that hopeless sucking emptiness is making it impossible to cope with life, you'll try anything to take the edge off.
In fact, knowing it might make me more prone to suicide might be part of the drug's allure. Suicide is not an easy thing to do. When you're in the moment, about to end it all - there is no worse feeling. There are no words... But if something can push you over the edge then I'd probably try it too. I can't say what caused Charlotte's death... but if she had a long battle with depression, I'd say that's it. Everything else she took, did, said would be a by-product of that.
Yes I agree. I had a very serious suicide attempt a few years ago and was found not breathing. What people who have never been through this do not, and can not understand, is that your brain operates very differently. the depression does something to your mind - you see a bridge and think "that's a great bridge to jump off" something you would normally never think.
Your mind goes so weird, thinks the strangest things. That's why it's important for people to get their relatives, friends into a hospital and keep them there because at that point nothing else will help.
THe major issue in Australia is the dire lack of psychiatric and hospital care for seriously depressed people, there is very little. THAT is what the Womens Weekly article should have been about, not some drug.
I believe that Charlotte was in hospital just before she suicided - why was she released?! It should never have happened.
Australia urgently needs more hospital beds, more treatment for depression - that is the only effort that will reduce the number of suicides.