'Honored' friend with his methadone therapy, friend died

A man in Croatia, identified as Marijo P., is facing charges for allegedly enabling his friend to consume drugs, which resulted in the friend's death. The indictment against Marijo P. has been confirmed by the County Court in Zagreb's indictment council.

The incident occurred on a day when Marijo P., who is a treated addict, received his methadone therapy. He reportedly decided to share his prescribed methadone tablets with a friend. Present during this time was Marijo P.'s then-girlfriend, who was also a drug addict. The three individuals consumed the methadone tablets together.

Shortly after ingestion, the friend of Marijo P. became seriously ill and subsequently died. Tragically, the former girlfriend of Marijo P., who was also under investigation for facilitating drug use, has since passed away as well.

Under Croatian law, enabling drug consumption that results in death carries a prison sentence ranging from three to 15 years. Methadone, a synthetic opioid, is used as a potent painkiller and in substitution therapy for addiction to harder drugs like heroin. However, in large quantities, it can be lethal. Data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health indicates that between 80 and 100 deaths annually in Croatia are attributed to drug consumption, with methadone frequently involved in overdoses.