A heartbroken mother has described the devastating moment she discovered her 'beautiful' son dead in her kitchen following an overdose of prescription drugs. Ruth Fowler, 54, never imagined that saying goodnight to her 'funny and loving' 22-year-old son William on July 2 last year would be the last time she told him, 'I love you.'
A Tragic Loss
William, a triplet, had been using cannabis and ketamine recreationally from the age of 16. Over time, his drug use escalated, and after being diagnosed with mental health conditions, he began taking highly addictive prescription medications, including Valium, oxycodone, and Xanax, obtained from street dealers.
Ruth, from Ightham, Kent, said her son's death came after he failed to receive the support he needed to maintain sobriety, despite making four attempts to overcome his addiction. The mother is now sharing her story to raise awareness for lives troubled by addiction.
A Cry for Help
William's step-sister Suri Hagger, 16, is also crowdfunding by running a half marathon in his name to raise money for the charity Addiction Family Support Charity. Ruth said: 'It was heartbreaking as a mother to see him suffer as he did. I did everything I could, he was just very vulnerable. After his death, I was told he was the youngest worst polydrug misuser they had seen. The heartbreaking question is, why wasn't he given special treatment to help him when he needed it the most?'
Following an inquest at Maidstone Coroners Court in February this year, it was revealed William had four drugs present in his body at the time of his death: Xanax, morphine, cocaine, and Pregabalin. His passing was later recorded as 'death by polydrug misuse'.
A Long Battle with Addiction
Ruth said it wasn't uncommon for William to have multiple drugs in his system at any one time. Following drug tests conducted by nurses at rehabilitation charity Change, Grow, Live (CGL), doctors found up to eight different substances in his bloodstream.
At 16, William passed all his GCSEs and wanted to join the Army. But aged 17, Ruth said he had become addicted to anxiety medication Diazepam, also known as Valium. The same year, he was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder. He later spent a month in a rehabilitation centre in Suffolk in December 2020, privately paid for by his mother and father.
Ruth then paid privately again for him to attend a rehab centre, The Priory in Woking, after he relapsed on opioid-based painkillers like oxycodone and other depressants such as Xanax. He left two weeks after detox. She said he relapsed due to 'limited care' NHS care available for under-18s suffering from drug addiction.
Homelessness and Relapse
His drug use continued, and in 2024, aged 21, William became homeless, living on the streets in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after being befriended by an addict who introduced him to heroin. He later agreed to come home and try to get clean through CGL.
In September 2024, under CGL's program, he began taking an opioid blocker pill called Buprenorphine daily to wean himself off the drug. After six months, he became sober, but unfortunately, in March 2025, CGL were unable to secure the funding needed to offer him rehab and therapy.
William relapsed again in April and ended up in Lewisham Hospital, suffering a crack overdose, and his CGL application was stopped due to criteria requirements. To be accepted into a rehabilitation facility, he needed to be clean of all drugs and undergo weekly drug tests. In May 2024, now aged 22, William started the process again and stayed sober for seven weeks. But CGL again struggled to find him a place, leaving him 'distraught'.
William had also, unbeknownst to Ruth, removed her from his consent so she was no longer informed of any drugs he was taking. Tragically, two months later, Ruth found him dead in their dog bed eight hours after he had collapsed. Ruth said it brings her 'peace' that he died at home.
A Broken System
Reflecting on his death, Ruth does not blame CGL but slams the system as 'broken' and questions the bureaucracy and unrealistic criteria that, if not in place, could have saved his life. CGL have been contacted for comment.
