Long Island Teen ODs At House Party, Left For Dead: Attorney Talks Civil Suit, Community Seeks Answers

EAST HAMPTON, NY — It has been more than three weeks since Christine Moran's son, Jordan Johnson, 18, a former star football player at East Hampton High School, overdosed at a party in Springs — more than three weeks since his nightmare was captured on Snapchat while he 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.

A mother's worst fear

The weeks seem like heartbeats for Johnson's mother, Moran, who described the past dark days to Patch.

"The pain you feel when you see your only child on life support is indescribable. Sometimes I didn't know why this was happening to me, but I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself. 'How can my only son be taken away from me?' I would ask. As a mom, you find that inner strength that keeps you going every minute of every day. I remained focused on my son, never left his side. I will remain doing so. The love for my child is beyond belief, as with all moms."

She added, "These past weeks have been the most difficult in my life, but my son is alive and that's more than I could ever ask for."

After time spent on a ventilator and unconscious, some have said that her son's survival, and recovery, is nothing short of miraculous.

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When she got the call that every parent dreads, Moran said, "My heart stopped. I was in a panic. You lose all sense of the world around you."

According to a report by nbcnewyork.com, Jordan allegedly thought he was given cocaine but instead was handed morphine and, when he overdosed, a party goer captured him on Snapchat.

The words that have been repeated often in the past days is that anyone who witnesses an overdose should reach out for help immediately.

"Calling 911 saves lives. Do not be afraid. Do not hesitate. If your friend is not responsive, call 911. Every minute counts when the brain is not receiving enough oxygen. Call for help," Moran said. "Dial 911."

Jordan will need months of rehabilitation, his mom said. He was on a ventilator, suffered damage to his kidneys, brain damage due to toxic leukoencephalopathy, was paralyzed on his right side, suffered initial hearing loss in both ears — although his ears still ring, his hearing is improving — and had to learn to talk, walk and use his motor skills again, Moran said. But despite the odds, her son, she said, will make a "full recovery."

And for that, she said, her family remains eternally grateful. "Jordan's recovery is a miracle and only God has control of these such miracles. I feel blessed. We just thank God every day because He allowed this miraculous recovery."

Looking for answers

In the days after Jordan's overdose, the community has struggled to find answers, to create a dialogue so that teens and parents, educators and residents can talk about the tentacles of addiction that are enveloping a generation.

"We, as parents can't be afraid to communicate to each other when we see bad things or bad signs of behavior. As parents we need to stick together no matter how uncomfortable the situation. It starts at home. Right after you discuss the birds and the bees, discuss drugs," Moran said.

Hauppauge-based attorney Edmond Chakmakian, hired to represent Jordan Johnson's family, said they have "no criticism at all of the East Hampton Town Police Department. We are confident that they will conduct a thorough investigation and, based on their findings, if they feel it's appropriate, charges will be filed. The first concern is for Jordan's health and continued recovery."

Currently, Jordan is undergoing rehabilitation at a New York City hospital, he said. He was first brought to Southampton Hospital after East Hampton Police were called the morning after he became unconscious.

"This could have been an absolute tragedy. We could all be attending a wake right now," Chakmakian said.

Meanwhile, Chakmakian said, "The family is exploring their alternatives through the civil justice system in terms of getting answers and renumeration for what occurred."

In addition to young people at the house that night, the attorney said, "from all accounts, there were adults. That's completely out of control and exceedingly irresponsible."

Also according to the nbcnewyork.com report, the Springs house is a known "party" house where those parties are advertised on social media; teens are allegedly charged admission and provided with drugs by a teen, who allegedly gets the drugs from an adult at the home.

"My understanding is that there were adults at the house, including the father . . who were certainly fostering an unhealthy environment and perhaps providing drugs to these very young people. And when things took a turn, nothing happened for many, many hours. That could have cost him his life," Chakmakian said.

After Jordan apparently overdosed, it was "12 hours before anyone called an ambulance. Instead, they were taking glee in what occurred, shouting in his ear with a megaphone. It's irresponsible. We believe they will be held to task at the end of the day," Chakmakian said.

Chakmakian said drugs are a scourge on today's landscape.

Jordan, he said, "is hurting. He's going to need long term rehabilitation. But it definitely could have been worse. I've been to funerals with kids wearing their high school lacrosse jerseys. It's a terrible epidemic and it's got to stop."

Teens, he added, "will try anything. Kids are expected to do stupid things." Adults, however, need to be held accountable. "You have adults who are running a household, like this one, with kids paying for entry by giving drugs or money. You'd expect more from presumably responsible adults. Teenagers are going to act like teenagers. Adults should know better."

Whether or not criminal charges are filed, Chakmakian said, "We are seriously looking into filing civil charges against the owner or occupier of the house — a civil suit, to get some answers here and make sure this doesn't happen again."

The name of the homeowner or adult present during the party was not released to Patch by police or by Chakmakian.

East Hampton Town Police responded to Patch's questions regarding the case: "There is an open investigation being conducted by our detective division, and anyone with information is asked to contact the detectives at 631-537-7575. Obviously, our agency takes drug abuse and underage drinking very seriously and will continue to work to help the parents of our community combat drug and alcohol issues in private residences. Department officials will have further comment upon completion of the investigation."

Richard Burns, superintendent of the East Hampton School District, said the entire staff of the district works every day to ensure the safety and welfare of its students. "It is our top priority. The high school principal, Adam Fine, and the support staff, including the psychologists and social workers, are leaders in the education field, securing funding and services for mental health services in our East End communities.

"Unfortunately, schools are subject to the same harsh consequences of drug abuse that affects every segment of our society. It is my hope that all members of the community will take an active role in working against this serious problem that is robbing the promise and future of too many of our young adults. The school district welcomes all members of the community to take an active role in finding ways to solve this most serious affliction," Burns said.

Community joins forces to fight addiction

And that's exactly what the community is hoping to do. A large group of parents attended a forum at Calvary Baptist Church in East Hampton recently, seeking answers.

Parent Mary McPartland, who attended, said, "Like so many parents in East Hampton, I found Jordan's story heartbreaking. Jordan is a very sweet, caring, and full of life young man. We are always hopeful as parents that nothing like Jordan's mistake will ever happen to our children. But that is a wish and a prayer these days."

She added that toxic substances are everywhere. "Even when kids think they're having an old-fashioned cup of keg beer. Often, its got something else in it. Not to mention the very real situation with pain killers. A lot of use starts with treating a sports injury. Healthcare professionals are now informing us of risks associated with analgesics for pain. They are addicting, very quickly. So, as parents and even for ourselves, we have to watch how much we use opioids after surgery or an injury. But the bigger issue is how easy it is for young people to access drugs like heroin and highly laced opioids. They are everywhere, in college, all over Long Island."

McPartland and others also attended a Narcan training and substance abuse forum organized by Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming recently at the East Hampton Village Fire Department.

"It was extremely eye-opening," McPartland said. "Every parent should be informed with this information. We really have no idea the extent of the problem. According to the Suffolk County Sheriff's office, a few dollars in your pocket is enough to do a ton of damage and set up a lifetime addiction. That is frightening."

Fleming, herself a mom who lives in Sag Harbor, said the key to tackling the "terrible threat" is working together as a community.

"The East End has always been a place where neighbors have each others' backs through any difficulty. So we need to keep talking — to our kids and to each other."

The legislator added, "If we pretend this is someone else's problem, our kids continue to be at risk. That's why I'm so gratified by the enthusiastic response we've gotten to the Narcan trainings my office has been holding throughout the district."

A good understanding of the dangers of opiates, and how to get help, saves lives, Fleming said.

"More and more people at the trainings are open to that message and to talking honestly with each other about working together to keep our young people safe," Fleming said.

The most important message, McPartland and others echoed, is how important it is for kids to know that they can call for help if a friend is overdosing.

"Don't hesitate. Don't wait. The Good Samaritan Law enables you to call without penalty. You can help your friends by pointing out that they've probably had enough. Don't let your friends drive. And certainly if they are in trouble, immediately call for help. Kids need to see that they are their brother's keeper and they need to look out for each other. Because the drug pushers are not going to. They want you addicted. You, on the other hand, want your friend alive," McPartland said.

Parents and adults, too, she said, need to recognize their role in keeping kids safe.

Linda Ventura of Kings Park, who founded the Thomas Hope Foundation after losing her son Thomas to an overdose at 21, spoke at a recent Riverhead gathering of parents and the public to speak out about the dangers of addiction.

"Prevention must begin at a much earlier age," she said. Children as young as 5 or 6 need to begin learning about prevention; many children already suffer from anxiety.

She agreed teens need to know it's okay to call 911, that the Good Samaritan Law means they are exempt from prosecution. "That has to be posted in the schools, drilled into them every day, so they know it's okay to call, rather than watching their friend die," Ventura said.

Prevention needs to begin at home, Ventura said. "Parents who say, 'It's only pot,' or 'They're just drinking,' need to realize the kids are 14 and 15. Would you let them take the car?"

Also, parents who come home when their kids are 2 and 3 years old and say, every day, that they've had a stressful day and then, reach for a glass of wine, set the stage for their children to grow up and reach for a beer when stressed themselves, Ventura said.

Parents need to make the hard choices and stand firm against teen drinking, acting as role models themselves, she said.

"Everyone wants to do what's easy, not what's right," Ventura said. "Parents don't want to be parents anymore."

She has always been the kind of parent who walked her kids to the door to make sure another parent was home before leaving them there, Ventura said —and yet, her son died of an overdose, a victim of addiction.

Today, almost five years later, she spends her life trying to save other parents from her tragic fate. "I've already lived the worst day of my life," Ventura said.

Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive officer of the Family and Children's Association in Mineola, has been on the front lines of addiction, serving on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's heroin task force and seeking answers for years.

"There's no single answer and no single solution when it comes to addressing addiction within individuals, families and communities," Reynolds said. "Parents have expressed a need for more information about the signs and symptoms of drug use and are hungry for advice about how best to approach their children if they suspect a problem. Annual workshops aren't enough for parents, nor are they enough for students. Red Ribbon Week arts, crafts and activities are great, but more districts need to implement evidence-informed prevention programs that are ongoing, age-appropriate and sustained."

In addition, he agreed with many when he said, "We also need to reinforce with young people, the importance of calling for help in the midst of a medical emergency. New York State provides limited immunity from prosecution for those who call for help, and young people ought to get more information about that 911 Good Samaritan Law."

There are overdoses happening every day in communities across Long Island, and the fatalities have been increasing annually for the last seven or eight years, Reynolds said.

"Those statistics and this incident remind us that prevention is important, but so is access to substance abuse treatment services, recovery supports and creating more safe spaces for our kids. And we've got to keep the momentum going long enough to make those things a reality. Addiction is the single biggest threat to the health and safety of our kids. Without some focused action, we'll quickly be talking about more misery and potentially more overdoses," he said.

Photos, video courtesy of Christine Moran