A WOMAN died on her sofa after taking a concoction of illegal and prescribed drugs, including heroin, an inquest has heard.
Frances John, who lived in St Budeaux, was found unresponsive by her partner of 20 years on the morning of May 9, 2015.
Despite his efforts to revive her, paramedics pronounced Ms John deceased on arrival.
Ms John had a history of drug dependency since 1999, her GP said in a statement read out to the room. She was "known to" Harbour [Drug and Alcohol Services].
The 45-year-old was found to have a "large range of medications" at high levels in her blood, when samples were analysed following her death.
Doctor Morley, who submitted the toxicology report, said the most likely cause of Ms John's death was the "toxic effects of multiple drugs".
In a statement read out in the inquest, Dr Morley said: "Although none of drugs detected are likely to cause death individually, the combined effect […] may have been sufficient to have caused death."
These drugs include methadone, which she had been prescribed, plus diazepam, nordiazepam, temazepam, amitriptyline and pregabalin.
In a report from her GP, Dr Matthew, it was said Ms John had been abstinent from alcohol for six years.
Det Con Harrop, who attended the scene after the police were notified of Ms John's death by paramedics, said there was "no evidence" this was a suicide attempt.
He said: "Mr [Garry] Campbell [Ms John's partner] said he had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room with Frances the evening before. They had both been smoking heroin recreationally.
"Mr Campbell woke up at about 10am in the morning to find Frances unresponsive, laying semiprone on the sofa.
"He attempted to rouse her and realised she was off colour […] and called the ambulance."
Assistant coroner Andrew Cox agreed there was "absolutely no suggestion" Ms John had taken her own life.
He concluded this was a "drug-related death".