Finding into death of Christina Mifsud

45y · Female·Combined Drug Toxicity

Christina Mifsud, aged 45, died from combined drug toxicity including methadone, diazepam, paroxetine and cannabis. She accessed methadone prescribed to her partner stored unsecured in their home. The coroner identified that take-away methadone dosing lacks effective supervision of secure storage arrangements. Guidelines recommend safe storage advice but do not specify who oversees compliance or what enforcement mechanisms exist. Among 124 methadone-related deaths in Victoria (2010-2011), 21 involved diverted take-away doses. The coroner found the practice of relying solely on patients to secure storage is inherently risky given addiction-related unreliability. Key clinical lessons: take-away opioid dosing requires verified secure storage protocols, regulatory oversight of storage safety is essential before dispensing, and healthcare providers must consider household access risks when prescribing controlled substances.