Christopher Brazil · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 8 August 2022, an investigation into the death of Christopher Brazil aged 45 was commenced, which I concluded on 15 April 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Brazil unintentionally overdosed on benzodiazepines, which he was taking regularly and died a drugs related death.

Mr Brazil had suffered from an accident some time before his death in which he sustained injuries that left him with pain; he also suffered with sciatica and he became depressed during the pandemic. Mr Brazil accessed his GP and was prescribed some medication for his ailments but, in a bid to self-medicate in order to manage his pain and, at times, poor mental health, Mr Brazil also sourced additional medicines and drugs. He was able to buy them from illegal websites, which depicted themselves as safe, regulated, online pharmacies. Mr Brazil died after inadvertently overdosing on benzodiazepines. They were not prescribed by his doctor or the NHS. Investigations by the police and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory (MHRA) have found that these were bought by Mr Brazil from unlawful providers operating under these websites: ████████ and ████████
Mr Brazil was able to buy prescription drugs from illicit providers on a regular basis; there are two A and E records in February and April 2022 of Mr Brazil being intoxicated on benzodiazepines, before he subsequently died from benzodiazepine toxicity in August 2022. Mr Brazil was struggling with physical pain and mental health issues and was susceptible to using this unlawful method, which was quick and readily available. On the last order made, the drugs were delivered the next day via Royal Mail.

Evidence shows that Mr Brazil was not suicidal, but he was anxious to manage pain and was not directed by a healthcare professional as to how much to take and when.

(1) There are unregulated and unlawful websites offering prescription only medicines and controlled drugs, which look legitimate and are found easily from simple online searches; and these sites give rise to the following points (2) to (6)

(2) Vulnerable and susceptible people are exposed to counterfeit or unsafe medications

(3) There are insufficient or no measures to verify patient medical history before selling the medication and drugs

(4) There is a lack of guidance regarding dosage

(5) There are a lack of safeguards to prevent incorrect self-diagnoses or misuse by consumers

(6) There is inadequate age and identity verification, potentially allowing minors to access restricted medicines and drugs

(7) The fact that it is possible for unlawful and unethical online pharmaceutical providers to operate and deliver to the buyer within 24 hours means that these illegal websites may be more appealing to some than lawful sources.