A 40-year-old woman died after using Monkey Dust two days after Christmas, an inquest has heard. Natalie Doorbar was found deceased at a home in Biddulph, Staffordshire, on December 27 of the previous year, having consumed the synthetic drug.
Ms. Doorbar is believed to have relapsed after abstaining from drugs for six months. Her family last saw her on Christmas Day. She communicated with her mother via text on Boxing Day, indicating she would return soon, but was discovered dead the following day after a 999 call was placed around 12:30 p.m.
PC Carly Statham, one of the first responders, reported that Ms. Doorbar appeared hot, sweaty, with purple lips, and was breathing shallowly. Callers later stated she had stopped breathing. At the time of Ms. Doorbar's death, four other individuals were present at the property, all reportedly engaged in drug use. PC Statham was informed they had purchased and were consuming a quantity of Monkey Dust that morning.
An inquest heard that Ms. Doorbar had withdrawn £100 from her bank account earlier that day. Police found burnt foil and several small bags containing Monkey Dust at the residence. A toxicology report revealed the presence of Monkey Dust, cocaine, THC, and diazepam in her system.
Ms. Doorbar had a history of drug use beginning in her youth. After returning to her family home amidst a period of addiction, her mother recorded her under the influence and showed it to her. Following this, Ms. Doorbar apologized and vowed to stop using drugs. Her mother stated that her daughter returned to her "happy normal self" after quitting and did not resume drug use. "We had Christmas dinner together. She was the happiest I've seen her in years. Then she got herself ready and went out. That was the last time we saw her," her mother told the inquest.
Dr. Mark Stefan informed the inquest that Ms. Doorbar's death was attributed to the effects of MD-PHP, the common active ingredient in Monkey Dust. He added that the probable cause of death was cardiac arrest. Coroner Fiona Gingell concluded that Ms. Doorbar's death was drug-related. "There's no dispute that she had a history of using illicit drugs. But she had been on a better path for the last six months," the coroner stated. "There is always a significant risk and danger each time someone uses them. I'm satisfied that she took monkey dust of her own free will. It was accidental. She used these drugs and sadly died as a result."
Biddulph is located approximately 20 minutes from Stoke-on-Trent, a city often referred to as the "monkey dust capital of Britain." Hundreds of people in the northern town are reportedly addicted to the cheap, synthetic, and potent drug, leading to Stoke being nicknamed "Dust Central."
Monkey Dust is a street name for synthetic cathinones. It was initially sold for approximately £2 per dose, but prices have since risen. The drug is designed to mimic the effects of stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines, or MDMA. It was first synthesized in laboratories to circumvent existing drug laws and continues to function as a stimulant. Users are drawn to the substance for its euphoric and alerting effects, often at a lower cost than other illicit stimulants. In 2010, Monkey Dust was classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the United Kingdom, making possession and supply illegal and punishable by imprisonment.