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Sarah HoustonEnglish student who probably died from DNP use
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Sarah Houston: A Tragic Story of DNP Use
- The Dangers of DNP
- A Fatal Combination
- A Life Cut Short
- The Expert Opinion
- The Fight for Change
Sarah Houston: A Tragic Story of DNP Use
Sarah Houston, a 23-year-old British student, tragically lost her life due to her secret use of the dangerous and banned weight loss pills known as dinitrophenol (DNP). Sarah, a medical student at the University of Leeds, came from a family of doctors, including her parents, brother, and sister. She was obsessed with her weight and had been secretly taking these dangerous pills. It was when she told her psychoanalyst that she had overcome her bulimia that the truth about her DNP use came to light.
The Dangers of DNP
DNP, although banned for human consumption, can easily be found online in the form of capsules used as herbicides in agriculture. According to Detective David Hinchliff, DNP is responsible for the deaths of 62 people worldwide, including Sarah. He stated that the manufacturers of DNP were well aware that the substance was being purchased for weight control purposes, not agricultural needs. Hinchliff said, "The only motive for producing such a toxic substance that helps people lose weight is to profit from those in such a vulnerable state, like Sarah."
A Fatal Combination
It was discovered that Sarah had been taking antidepressants along with DNP. The combination of these two substances, both aimed at increasing metabolism, likely proved to be fatal. Sarah was found dead in her bedroom by her flatmate. The day before, she had refused to call for medical help when she felt unwell, her eyes turned yellow, and she began to feel feverish. She took two cold showers in an attempt to lower her temperature. Sarah told her flatmate that this condition was normal for her, so there was no need to cause a commotion.
A Life Cut Short
Sarah's father, Geoff, pleaded with those who sell DNP, saying, "If you have an ounce of decency, you should stop. The world has lost a bright, vibrant person who could have made a difference in the lives of others. Sarah loved life and had a passionate desire to help those less fortunate than herself." The investigation revealed that Sarah had taken 38 DNP capsules out of a total of 100. Traces of the substance were found in her bloodstream. There was no evidence of overdose or suicidal intentions. Sarah had been under the care of a psychiatrist for three years due to her eating disorder, but things were improving.
The Expert Opinion
Toxicologist Matthew Wade spoke about DNP, saying, "The substance affects different people in different ways. We know of several fatal cases caused by DNP, and we know that it is lethal regardless of dosage. It is not meant for human consumption, and it is a poisonous substance. Therefore, the use of DNP could have caused Sarah's death." Dr. Graham Mould, a forensic toxicologist, added that the combination of DNP and the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) may have exacerbated the situation. He stated, "We do not know how long Sarah had been taking DNP, but it is possible that the substance accumulated in her body, increasing her metabolism. Side effects can include overheating and suffocation caused by an accelerated pulse rate, which seems to be what Sarah experienced that evening."
The Fight for Change
Sarah's body mass index was 23, which is considered almost ideal for young people. However, due to her unhealthy desire to control her weight, along with the prescribed antidepressants, Sarah secretly added DNP to her diet. Her desire to "cleanse" her body from "overeating" decreased from eight times a day to approximately once every two weeks. Unfortunately, she was never able to celebrate her victory. Sarah's father, Geoff, her mother Gina, her sister Vicky, and her brother James, all qualified medical professionals, promised to lobby the government to have DNP classified as an illegal substance.
