Valium / Diazepam News Blog

Scoggins said his department responded to a home in the 600 block of Snedeker Street, in Jerseyville, on Monday, July 17, and upon arrival, found ambulance personnel on scene and a house full of people. Dahn was lying on a bed, deceased, with no apparent injuries or trauma to his body.

Scoggins testified that friends present at the home told him Dahn had attended the Jersey County Fair's demolition derby with them the night before, and that Dahn had appeared very drowsy at times and occasionally fell asleep in the middle of conversation.

Jersey County Coroner Larry Alexander pronounced Dahn dead at 3:09 p.m.

An autopsy revealed that Dahn had several drugs in his system, including: diazepam (Valium), an anti-anxiety agent used primarily for short-term relief of mild to moderate anxiety attacks; alprazolam (Xanax) a drug used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks; methadone, a strong medicine used in the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence; marijuana and cocaine.

"We were able to determine that none of the prescription medicine - diazepam, alprazolam or methadone - had been prescribed for him," Scoggins said.

The autopsy showed Dahn's death was caused from methadone toxicity, an accidental overdose of the methadone.

According to a methadone fact sheet, a lethal dose may occur in non-tolerant adults, children, elderly, infirm, or in people taking other depressant drugs or alcohol.

Scoggins testified that even if law enforcement officials discover who gave or sold the drugs to Dahn, the case would not be considered homicide, because the person would have had to have given or sold the drugs to Dahn while knowing or intending they would cause his death.

The coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death from an accidental overdose of methadone.

Jerseyville Community School District Superintendent Jim Whiteside declined to comment about the former Jersey Community High School student, citing rules on student privacy.

Asked to comment whether district officials are aware of widespread drug use by students or easy access to street and prescription drugs, Whiteside said the district has no data or survey materials reflecting use or abstinence of drugs and alcohol.

"However, district-wide, we utilize a variety of alcohol and drug prevention programs, starting with our second-graders in (Beginning Awareness Basic Education Series), which is a nationally recognized curriculum that uses animal puppets combined with storytelling to give practical information on the topic of substance abuse prevention and education," Whiteside said. "Our staff are trained to watch for signs of drug abuse.

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