An inquest has found that a 29-year-old Camden man died from a fatal crystal meth overdose just nine days after moving from a residential rehabilitation programme into a homeless hostel, prompting a coroner to warn London’s public health leaders of the risk of future deaths. Eden Dante Henry, who had been undergoing a six-month rehabilitation programme for crystal meth addiction since autumn 2024, moved into the hostel on March 13, 2025, and was found dead on the morning of March 22, 2025.
The inquest, heard at Poplar Coroners Court and concluded on June 15, 2026, revealed that the hostel was part of a scheme intended to help people further along in their recovery transition towards independent living within 6-9 months. However, Eden was not at that stage of recovery and was reportedly scared of relapsing after leaving the “abstinence only” programme, where he had been regularly tested for drugs. The next placement offered by the rehab project was far from Camden, where his support networks were located.
Hostel staff failed to act on red flags
According to the inquest, despite hostel workers expressing concern that Eden was at “high risk” of relapse, staff failed to act on potential red flags. On the morning of March 20, workers noticed his “badly shaved head”, but there was no evidence that this was escalated to the substance misuse service. At 5pm the following day, Eden’s hostel keyworker saw him leaving the building with his uneven shave. Around 10:30 that night, he was captured on CCTV walking around the hostel naked, and the concierge told him to go back to his room or they would call the police.
The next morning, Eden was found barricaded in his room, having taken a fatal overdose of crystal meth. Assistant Coroner for Inner North London Sarah Bourke said the hostel move had raised the risk of him relapsing, “compounded” by the absence of his substance misuse worker and keyworkers at the point he left rehab. “It is unclear what measures were in place to monitor and support him by substance misuse services,” she added, noting that communications between different services were weak in the lead-up to his move.
Coroner highlights gaps in support for crystal meth users
Ms Bourke noted that “mainstream” housing services are better trained to identify signs of opioid and crack cocaine relapse, rather than crystal meth. She also pointed out that the hostel’s Monday-Friday staffing schedule risked creating a support gap at key times. “Given crystal meth’s associations with the club scene and night-time economy, users are most vulnerable to relapse and resultant problematic behaviour during the night and at weekends,” the coroner concluded. She warned the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and England’s Chief Medical Officer of the risk of future deaths occurring if they did not act.
In response, ADPH said it did not directly commission local services, but would inform all directors of public health – who serve as the principal health advisors to all London councils – in its network. The body also listed several actions it would take, such as encouraging a review of how moves between residential treatment, housing and community services are managed. It pledged to help improve treatment practice through promoting “multidisciplinary information sharing and coordinated support”.
Government and council respond to inquest findings
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) response stated that the Government recognised individuals “too often” leave drug treatment centres and are placed in unsuitable housing that risks reversing their recovery. The duty minister said the DHSC was working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to draw up clear guidance for local authorities on how to plan for the housing needs of people leaving residential treatment. The minister also said the Government is developing a new national service framework for drug and alcohol treatment services, which would include how services should approach specific vulnerabilities, protected characteristics (including LGBTQ+ people), and distinct patterns of substance use.
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We were saddened to hear of the death of Eden Henry and our thoughts remain with Eden’s loved ones. Reducing harm for people who use drugs is a key public health priority for the council.” The spokesperson added that the council was taking steps locally and with partners across London to improve support for substance users, such as introducing “bespoke” resources for hostel staff who work with people using crystal meth and other drugs.
