A heartbroken mum has told of her horror after finding her 'beautiful' son dead in her kitchen after he overdosed on 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.'

William, a triplet, had been using cannabis and ketamine recreationally from the age of 16. 

Over time, his drug use escalated, and following diagnoses of mental health conditions, he began taking highly addictive prescription medications, including Valium, oxycodone, and Xanax, which he obtained from street dealers.

Ruth, from Ightham, 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 mum is now sharing her story to raise awareness for lives troubled by addiction.

William's step-sister, 16, is also crowdfunding by running a half-marathon in his name to raise money for 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'.

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, he passed all of 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 also 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 her and his father.

Ruth then paid privately again for him to attend a rehab centre, The Priory in Woking, after he relapsed, this time on opioid based painkillers like oxycodone and other depressants such as Xanax.

He left two weeks after he had been detoxed.

She said he relapsed due to 'limited' NHS care available for under-18s suffering from drug addiction.

His drug use continued, and in 2024, William became homeless, living on the streets in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after he was 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, and 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 the rehab and therapy.

William relapsed again in April and ended up in Lewisham Hospital, suffering a crack overdose and his GCL application was stopped due to the criteria.

To be accepted into a rehabilitation facility requires you to be clean of all drugs and subsequently drug tested on a weekly basis.

But in May 2025 now aged 22, William started the process again and stayed sober for 7 weeks.

But CGL again struggled to find William a place which left 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 also brings her 'peace' that he died at home.

Reflecting on his death, Ruth does not blame CGL but she slams the system as 'broken' and questions the bureaucracy and unrealistic criteria, which, if wasn't there, could have saved his life.

A Change Grow Live Spokesperson said: 'We are extremely saddened by the death of William, and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and the wider community.

While it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the specific circumstances of someone we supported, we have been in contact with William's family to answer their questions and to share information about William's care as fully as we can.

We care deeply about the people who engage with our services and the communities we serve, and we remain committed to doing everything we can to help people access the care and treatment they need.'