(L.A.) Catherine Meek, 60, Died From Substance Abuse

Case Number: 2024-12524

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 60-year-old White/Caucasian female that occurred at her residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the woman as Catherine Meek.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Other Significant Conditions: Acute and Chronic Alcohol Use, Effects of Lorazepam, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Hereditary Hemochromatosis, Liver Cirrhosis

RIP CATHERINE MEEK (September 15, 1963 – August 6, 2024)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 7:27 p.m.

Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was published on October 6, presumably after the results of tox screening had come back positive from the lab.

This is considered an accidental, i.e., unintentional, overdose.

Lorazepam is a medication that belongs to the benzodiazepine class. It is primarily used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizure disorders, and it can also be used as a premedication for medical procedures or in emergency situations to calm patients.

Some individuals misuse lorazepam for its sedative and calming effects, often in combination with other substances like alcohol, which can enhance its effects.

With prolonged use, individuals may develop tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects, increasing the risk of overdose.

Both lorazepam and alcohol are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. When taken together, their effects can be additive, leading to increased sedation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression.

The body of a woman at this age is less resilient to the combined effects of these substances.

Overdosing on either substance can lead to respiratory depression, which means that the person may not breathe adequately. This can result in a lack of oxygen to the brain and body, leading to death.