DEADLY OVERDOSE IS FOURTH OF WEEK

LONG BEACH - Derek Ray Johnson's family had been planning a trip to
Hattiesburg for the opening day of dove season, which is the first
weekend in September.

Instead of planning for their trip, though, the 19-year-old's family
spent Saturday making arrangements for his funeral. Johnson died
Friday after overdosing on methadone, a drug typically given to heroin
addicts to curb physical withdrawal.

Johnson was scheduled to start a new semester at the Mississippi Gulf
Coast Community College Jefferson Davis campus on Monday.

Johnson's mother, Angie, said Saturday she thought her oldest son was
smoking marijuana or taking an occasional pill. "But I never would
have thought methadone." When Angie Johnson confronted her son about
her suspicions he told her he would stop smoking marijuana and could
"kick" whatever else he was doing.

Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said it is the fourth drug
overdose case he has investigated in the past week.

"Methadone has been involved in all four," Hargrove
said.

Johnson ate dinner with his grandparents Thursday night before going
out with some friends. A longtime friend picked up Johnson at the end
of the night and brought Johnson home with him because it was late,
Angie Johnson said.

When Johnson didn't wake up, the friend and his mother tried
unsuccessfully to resuscitate him.

Angie Johnson said paramedics found methadone on her son. She also
learned her son had used a painkiller, Lortab, and a muscle relaxer,
Soma.

Angie Johnson said she wants parents to know how dangerous drugs are
and encourages them to get more involved in their child's lives. She
said parents should look for changes in their child's behavior and
know their friends.

"Be nosy," she said.