Long Island Teen Speaks Out On Overdose: 'It Scares Me. If I Had Died I Wouldn't Have Been Able To Say Goodbye'

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Just days after her son, Jordan Johnson, returned to East Hampton after weeks of hospitalization — the teen overdosed at a house party, where he was allegedly left for dead for approximately 12 hours while teens recorded his ordeal on Snapchat —Christine Moran is filled with gratitude to have him home.

And, with news breaking Friday morning that the owner of the home where he overdosed has been arrested and is facing a string of charges related to teen house parties involving Xanax and alcohol, and is being held in lieu of $40,000 bail — Moran weighed in, saying that she's grateful that justice is being served.

"We are overwhelmed with joy. Not just for us but for our beautiful community. I believe these charges will stick and I'm confident in our justice system," she said.

Jordan speaks out

Remembering his terrifying ordeal, Jordan told Patch: "It scares me. I don't like to think of it. If I had died, I wouldn't have been able to say goodbye to anyone."

He said while he doesn't remember the details of that night, he has one vivid recollection: "All I know is nobody called 911 right away."

On the miracle of his survival, he said, "I thank God and I feel blessed."

And to all those who have rallied to help, Jordan said, "Thank you, and I love you."

To other kids, Jordan has a message to convey: "If you see your friends going down the wrong road and continuously doing bad things tell someone."

A miracle homecoming

An immense sense of gratitude fills Moran's heart, knowing that her son is home again after weeks of hospitalization and rehabilitation following the overdose.

The feeling, she said, is "amazing. I just wanted him home from Day One and I didn't care what mental or physical condition. I just wanted him alive and home. So to have us together again, with disabilities we can overcome is truly amazing."

Jordan's progress, she said, "is beyond what the doctors expected at this point, but we still have a journey. Jordan couldn't hear out of his left hear, talk, or walk, and the right side of his body was paralyzed, with no feeling. Now he can walk, talk and take care of himself."

However, she said, "the brain damage is permanent, his hearing is bad, and he needs to strengthen his muscles." He will follow up as an outpatient for occupational and physical therapy as well as cognitive and speech skills, she said. "But the doctors say they expect an almost full recovery."

The news of his continued recovery inspires hope and a heart full of gratitude, she said.

While he was hospitalized, Moran said, "I was on auto pilot the entire time. When he was waking up from the coma and gave me a thumbs up I was thrilled, but when his test results came back and told us he was going to be okay, we were beyond full of joy and excitement. We're so thankful."

The whole experience, she said, has spotlighted the need for parents and the community to work with kids to prevent tragedy.

"We need to teach our children to protect themselves and their friends. Don't be afraid to communicate as parents. Kids are going to experiment, kids will make poor choices, but nowadays it can cost them their life. "

Reflecting on the night her son overdosed, and on the adult whose home where it took place, and the teens who did not call for help immediately, she said, "It's disturbing. Cops were called several times about the house. To Snapchat a video of my son passed out and a megaphone blowing in his ear is beyond sick and morbid. To leave my son to die is unimaginable and preposterous, with a so-called parent present."

To other young people in a similar situation, she said, "Call 911 if someone is not responding. Don't be scared."

And to the community that has opened its arms to help during the darkest of times, Moran said, "I respect and thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. The support from my community is beyond what I ever could have imagined. We couldn't have gotten through this without everyone. Our community is small but can feel somewhat large at times. Bonac always knows when to come together. I can say 'thank you', but I feel it isn't enough. I want this experience to bring us closer together as a community to protect everyone from this kind of unfortunate event from happening again."

Now that he's home, her son, Moran said, was happy to be home in own bed. And for his first meal, she made his favorite, her "famous" Swedish meatballs, for him and his friends. "He was so happy to have a home-cooked meal. And his friends are so grateful he is back."

Homeowner charged

Meanwhile, a Springs man has been charged with numerous offenses related to house parties where he allegedly sold Xanax to a teen and allowed underage drinking, police said — and the home is the same location where Jordan, 18, recently overdosed, authorities confirmed.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Jefferson D. Eames, 48, of Springs, was arrested on Thursday and charged with "numerous criminal counts" related to underage parties held at his residence.

Eames, police said, was charged with offenses related to the sale of a controlled substance by providing Xanax to a youth living at his residence, endangering the welfare of children less than 17 years of age, and violating the Suffolk County Social Host Law for knowingly allowing children to consume alcohol at his residence.

He was taken into custody on Thursday at his residence when he attempted to re-enter his residence and close the door on investigators, police said.

He was charged with one count of fifth degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, three counts of violating Suffolk County's Social Host law, an unclassified misdemeanor, and one count of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, police said.

Police and Moran said the home at 151 Neck Path is the same location as where Johnson was found.

He was arraigned Friday and remains in custody in lieu of $40,000 bail, according to justice court representatives.

After Johnson overdosed and was, according to the attorney representing him and his family, left for dead, the community came together, working to ensure such incidents never happen again.

East Hampton Police Captain Chris Anderson said adults need to take the lead in educating kids. "It would start with conversations with your kids, first and foremost. There's a Social Host Law and it's incumbent upon those adults to exercise good judgment," he said.

Anderson added that the arrest came after a "series of incidents," and said, "It is still a continuing investigation, it remains active, and there is the potential for additional charges."

Jordan, a former star football player at East Hampton High School, overdosed and, according to his family and attorney, was left unattended and unconscious for approximately 12 hours until police were notified on the morning of Jan. 30.

Now, Johnson's family is seeking answers — and has retained an attorney, who is considering pursuing a civil suit.

And, struggling with the insidious addiction creeping into sleepy streets, the East Hampton community has come together to seek answers and find ways to ensure that no young person should ever have to endure the same fate as Jordan — sounding a message loud and clear that teens should not be afraid to dial 911 in the event of an overdose.

To read a prior report about the East Hampton community galvanizing for change, to prevent similar overdoses in the future, click here.