Young father kills himself after taking N-Bomb
An inquest has heard how a young father-to-be killed himself after taking a drug that was banned just days afterwards.
Jake Harris, who was just 21 years old, took the legal high 251-NBOME in May 2013, thinking that it was LSD. He suffered severe psychosis during which he threw himself against a first-floor window and then stabbed himself repeatedly with broken glass.
He was taken to accident and emergency but had suffered a fatal heart attack. He was put on life support but it was switched off the following day and he was declared dead.
Jake was a lifeguard and usually a fun-loving individual who was well liked. On the night of his death he went out drinking with a good friend, Steven Higgins. After the night out they went to a friend’s flat and took what was thought to be LSD; in fact, they were given 251-NBOME, also known as N-Bomb. At the time the drug was still legal and was popular on the party scene.
The inquest heard that soon after taking the drug Jake was heard saying: “I want it to stop.” Shortly afterwards he threw himself against a window several times and then smashed a wine glass and stabbed himself.
Jake was suffering from a heart condition. It was not the first time he had experience psychosis and rage after taking drugs; his mother explained how he had once “smashed up my house in a drug induced rage”.
N-Bomb was banned on 10th June because of frequent serious side effects including paranoia, confusion and powerful hallucinations.