Jorja Watt, a 27-year-old teacher from Lancaster, England, was discovered unresponsive at a friend’s residence on September 1, 2024, and subsequently died. Watt, who was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, had finished six years of study for her teaching career and was gearing up to start a new job in Costa Rica.
An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court in January 2025 detailed how she had succeeded in completing her studies and maintaining employment while grappling with her emotional personality disorder.
Watt was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker during a night out in Preston, Lancashire, months before her death. During the arrest, she was purportedly stripped and left naked in a cell at Preston Police Station. This incident severely impacted her mental health and raised concerns about her teaching career. After several hours, she was released without any charges.
In the aftermath of the police cell incident, Watt stopped taking her prescribed medication and started self-medicating with prescription drugs. “She was not taking drugs for a high and chasing a thrill. Her mental health was a real battle for her, and taking medication was an attempt to win that battle,” the coroner stated during the inquest.
A post-mortem toxicology report revealed the presence of several prescription drugs in her system at her time of death, including methadone, pregabalin, and dihydrocodeine. Medical professionals testified during the inquest that this drug combination, consumed without appropriate medical oversight, led to her death. The toxicology report showed levels of medication suggesting regular use in the weeks leading up to her death.
The inquest revealed that Watt’s mental health significantly worsened after the police cell incident. She started visiting places known as “drug dens” to obtain prescription medications after discontinuing her prescribed treatment. The coroner’s investigation established a direct connection between this behavioral change and the trauma she endured during her arrest.
The coroner reached a verdict of misadventure, underlining that Watt’s death was an unintended result of her actions. The verdict highlighted that her self-medication was a reaction to her deteriorating mental health and not recreational drug use. Medical evidence presented at the inquest showed that the mix of medications in her system resulted in a fatal interaction leading to her death.