A once-promising rugby player was found dead at home on Christmas Day, an inquest has heard.
Joseph Thomas was discovered by two friends lying on the floor of his ground floor flat at Nether Court, Greenmeadow in Cwmbran on the evening of December 25, 2018.
Gwent Coroners' Court heard how the pair, who had called round to see the 23-year-old, managed to gain access to his address because the lock on the door had previously been broken.
They then called the emergency services upon finding him unresponsive on his side in the living room.
The place was described as being in "a state of disarray" and his body surrounded by "blister packs of various prescription medication" and "empty cans of lager."
There was also an upturned table and chair nearby and, next to him, a pool of vomit.
A paramedic team arrived at the address shortly afterwards but were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at just after 7pm.
A post mortem toxicology report revealed cannabinoids - compounds found in cannabis - and diazepam, amongst others, had been present in his system. Also found was a "toxic level" of pregabalin, which is used to treat anxiety.
However, Senior Coroner Caroline Saunders told of how Thomas had excelled in rugby during his younger years, having been selected at both regional and national level.
He had played for the youth side of Newport's Dragons and had enjoyed a college scholarship with Wigan Warriors.
However, in a statement read to the court, Thomas' mother Carolyn described how her son had given up on the sport because "he didn't believe in himself."
The inquest was also told that Thomas had a history of anger issues, drug problems and mental health difficulties.
In addition, he'd been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, personality disorders and drug psychosis.
He had also attempted to overdose several times prior to his death, been sectioned and, following trouble with the police, served time in jail.
However, his mother spoke of him as having been let down by the system, both at school age and, latterly, by the various drug and mental health agencies assigned to help him.
"He struggled ever since he was young boy," she told the court.
"He could be destructive and his own worst enemy, but he could also be the nicest person in the world."
She added that he would regularly give all his money away to the homeless he encountered on the street and that she would have to remind him to keep some back for himself.
Ms Thomas also described how her "very intelligent" son had problems fitting in and how he was regarded as "weird" by many, further stating that he only excelled on the rugby pitch because it was the one place he found acceptance.
She described their "strong bond," adding that, of her five children, Joseph was the one "who took up all my time."
Ultimately, however, she came to believe that her son's behaviour made him "safer in prison than at home."
"His favourite day of the year was Christmas Day," she said. "And all his favourite films were Christmas movies - even though he was 23.
"I just miss him."
Ms Thomas also said that, shortly before December 25, her son had gone to his GP and told him he'd run out of the pregabalin recently prescribed to him - at which point he was given an extra week's batch.
Summing up, Ms Saunders shared the family's concern about this but couldn't say whether or not it had been the correct decision, adding that the GP had faced the quandary of either believing his patient or potentially leaving him without his required medication over the festive period.
She described Thomas' life as having been "chaotic" and spoke of his mental health problems as having been "masked by or contributed to by his illicit drug use."
She added that he had been suffering an underlying chest infection at the time of his death and taking large amounts of pregabalin and diazepam would have had a sedatory effect and "depressed his respiratory system."
She recorded a conclusion that he'd "died of natural causes, contributed to by the excess use of prescription medication."
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