THE mother of a talented graduate who killed himself after becoming addicted to a cocktail of prescription drugs bought over the Internet demanded changes in the law last night.

Angry Sue Brackell called on the Government to address the problem of unregulated websites selling powerful medicines after an inquest into the death of her son Liam, who studied at the University of Durham.

The 24-year-old stepped in front of a train two months ago after suffering from drug-induced psychosis brought about by two years of taking anti-depressants he obtained from Internet sites.

At one point, Liam was receiving 300 anti-depressant tablets a day and, by the time of his death, he had tried 23 different prescription drugs.

At the inquest yesterday, a jury recorded Liam's death was a result of "suffering from a depressive illness".

Afterwards, his mother, a music teacher, vowed to wage war against the Internet companies which sell prescription drugs.

The inquest heard that Liam went to Durham to study maths after gaining three A grade A-levels.

In a statement by Mrs Brackell, read out to the court, she told how shy Liam started smoking cannabis and "took drugs to make him feel better about himself".

By April 2000, when Liam was in his third year, his drug-taking had escalated to Ecstasy and magic mushrooms and that "things were getting more out of hand".

In autumn 2000, Liam's Ecstasy-taking "plunged him into a deep depression", and by January 2001 he became "manic" and went on a drugs binge.

Shortly afterwards, Mrs Brackell realised he was ordering prescription drugs over the Internet to help him come down from his Ecstasy highs. She said: "Large quantities of diazepam (Valium) were coming through our letterbox, sellotaped inside pieces of cardboard inside the envelopes."

Mrs Brackell tried to get rid of the drugs, but more would be posted. She said she received no help from her GP, local pharmacy or a support group.

In July 2001, Liam tried to kill himself by running in front of a bus. He was subsequently diagnosed as suffering from "drug induced psychosis".

Liam, from Wanstead in east London, came off his street drugs but still suffered from mood swings. In a diary he wrote: "Voices encouraging me to kill myself."

His mood swings continued despite medication and his mother found he had been visiting suicide sites on the Internet. Liam was later diagnosed with drug-induced schizophrenia.

After the inquest at Walthamstow Coroner's Court, Mrs Brackell said: "Liam's problem was exacerbated by the Internet where certain companies are making huge profits by cynically manipulating all those vulnerable people who are desperate for release. Nobody is doing anything about this.

"If the Government and the police persist in their refusal to address this problem, life will continue to be wasted and destroyed by unscrupulous profiteers who are given free reign to peddle and push their drugs, unchecked and uncontrolled over the net.

"The only option then left for the most desperate, such as my son, is to turn their attention to the suicide sites."

City of Durham MP Gerry Steinberg said: "Clearly there should be some sort of regulation and restriction on the sale of such things over the Internet."