Death of Leah Betts

Leah Sarah Betts (1 November 1977 – 16 November 1995) was an English woman from Latchingdon, Essex, who became a prominent figure in discussions about drug use in the United Kingdom following her death shortly after her 18th birthday. On 11 November 1995, during her birthday celebration at home, Leah consumed an ecstasy (MDMA) tablet and subsequently drank approximately 7 litres (1.8 US gallons) of water within a 90-minute period. Four hours later, she collapsed into a coma and was admitted to the hospital, where she remained until her death on 16 November. The inquest concluded that her death resulted from water intoxication leading to hyponatremia, causing fatal swelling of the brain; it was suggested that the ecstasy tablet may have impaired her body's ability to regulate water balance.

Her case drew extensive media attention, partly because she came from a middle-class family, which defied the stereotype of drug users. A prominent anti-drug campaign used her photo with the slogan "Sorted", but critics said such words were too one-sided, giving the impression that her death was caused merely by "one ecstasy tablet". The police spent £300,000 investigating the source of the drugs but only brought minor charges against her friends.

Her death had a lasting impact. Her father became an active anti-drug campaigner, but later research questioned the way the media presented the case, comparing the risks of ecstasy with those of alcohol. The case remains significant in drug policy discussions and inspired the creation of works such as the novel Campos de Fresas.