Inquest into the death of Alissa Campbell

26y · Female·Multiple drug toxicity

Alissa Campbell, aged 26, died from accidental drug overdose caused by multiple prescription medications—predominantly codeine and doxepin in combination with benzodiazepines. She had accessed prescription drugs from at least 13 different GPs in six months, obtaining large quantities through private scripts. No single doctor had oversight of her complete medication profile. Dr M. provided cautious, appropriate care. Dr H. issued 800 diazepam tablets on private scripts despite warning signs of problematic use; he failed to exercise independent clinical judgment and did not explore why a young mother was requesting medications by name in large quantities. Had she received early medical intervention, she would likely have survived. The coroner found her death was preventable. Key lessons: real-time prescription monitoring would have enabled treating doctors to see the full picture and intervene; doctors prescribing opioids must discuss overdose risks; independent clinical judgment must not be supplanted by patient requests; and complex patients with multiple prescribers require coordinated care.