A court has heard that a woman passed away after using cocaine on her first night out after giving birth to her baby. In July 2019, Rebecca Tollan, 23, died suddenly in her residence in Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, Barry McAuley, 40, and Martin Stewart, 34, went on trial for the culpable murder of Tollan. The two are charged with giving Tollan the “potentially lethal” class A drug on July 14 and 15, 2019, at the Railway Tavern in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, and at the Bellshill residence. They are accused of doing so “recklessly and unlawfully.”
According to MailOnline, they dispute the charges. The first witness in the trial was Pamela Tollan, who described how the women had gone out on July 14 and ended up in the Railway Tavern’s beer garden. After sending drinks to McAuley and Stewart’s table, the two women went to sit with them.
According to testimony given in court, Barry offered Pamela “a wee bag” after Rebecca asked the guys if they had any “stuff”, and Pamela “understood precisely what she meant.” Later, Pamela wanted to use the restroom, so she went with her sister-in-law. While inside, Pamela used cocaine before they went back outside to the males.
The group after that travelled to a home near Bellshill, where Rebecca took further drugs. Pamela said in court that she saw four lines of cocaine on a plate but only one left when she went to the restroom. After then, she thinks her sister-in-law used more cocaine. Pamela said, “Becky was her person,” when asked whether she was worried about how much of the substance Rebecca was using. She would not listen, no matter how much you tried to convince her.
“I did say to her, “You don’t need it; you’re having fun,” however. I told her you don’t need it, so quit now.” When they finally decided to take a cab home, Rebecca “started shivering” and spitting blood. Even though medical personnel came to the home and tried to rescue her, she never recovered.
The court was informed that this was Rebecca’s first outing after giving birth at a hospital. This was the first time she had gone out drinking in nine months because she had refrained from alcohol while pregnant. Rebecca, according to Pamela, did not use cocaine when she was pregnant either. Stewart, of Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, is accused of participating in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana on separate counts. McAuley, a Bellshill native, is implicated in one of those cocaine-related charges. The trial is still going on before Judge Lord Clark.
Do you Know
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that makes you more alert, focused, and energetic. It could be considered a stimulant. The native coca plant of South America is used to make it. It is prohibited in the US.
Dopamine is a chemical messenger that naturally occurs in your body and travels in large quantities through drugs to the parts of your brain that control pleasure. A “high” is the term used to describe the high energy and alertness resulting from this buildup.
Extreme sensitivity to touch, sound, and sight; extreme happiness; irritability/angriness; paranoia; and decreased appetite are some additional short-term effects of cocaine.
Regular cocaine users may also experience more severe side effects and health issues, including headaches, convulsions, seizures, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, mood swings, sexual difficulties, lung damage, HIV or hepatitis if cocaine is injected well as mood problems and sexual difficulties. If swallowed, it can cause bowel decay; if snorted, it can cause loss of smell, nosebleeds, runny noses, and difficulty swallowing.
You might experience intense cravings for the drug and the euphoria it provides. However, your brain will become more accustomed to cocaine the more you use it. You’ll need to take a larger dose to achieve the same high. This might result in a risky addiction or overdose.
Stronger, more frequent doses can also bring on long-term alterations in your brain’s chemistry. Your mind and body start to depend on the drug. You may find it more challenging to think, sleep, and remember things. You may react more slowly. You also risk developing new lung, stomach, and heart issues.
Treatment
The most popular therapy for cocaine addiction includes counselling and various forms of therapy. You may have to stay at a recovery facility (also known as rehab). Your actions and cognitive patterns may alter due to your sessions with a qualified therapist. There are no authorized medications to treat cocaine addiction. Find out more about cocaine addiction therapy.
The most crucial element of any treatment strategy is immediately stopping using the substance. When they initially do this, many cocaine addicts experience a period known as withdrawal. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty focusing, increased appetite, drug cravings, nightmares, chills, nerve pain, and muscle pains are some possible symptoms. Treatment for a cocaine overdose is more challenging. The following are some physical indicators: Increased sweating, body temperature, or heart rate; Difficulty breathing; Chest discomfort; Nausea or vomiting; Confusion, seizures, and tremors.
Also, keep an eye out for these mental overdose warning signs: Hallucinations, delirium, panic attacks, and fear.
An overdose often results in a heart attack or stroke. The problems will be examined for and attempted to be treated initially by an ER physician. Other issues you have might potentially be treated with medicine.
