http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/041405/tp2ch7.htm?date=041405&story=tp2ch7.htm
Two arrested on drug charges found to be making legal street drug
PUNTA GORDA -- Three people were arrested on drug charges at the FEMA
mobile home park around 8 p.m. Tuesday. Two of the suspects were
allegedly "cooking" the legal but sometimes lethal street drug, DXM,
which recently resulted in the deaths of two Lee County teens and the
hospitalization of an Englewood teen last year.
Deputy Terri Hessler of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrived
at the mobile home on a public assist call. A woman wanted his help to
retrieve some clothing from inside the home.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's re****t:
Hessler went to the door of the residence, 26551 Air****t Road, unit
286, and was met by 20-year-old Matthew Daniel Ross, who lived in the
home. Ross appeared to be under the influence and allegedly told the
deputy that he had been cooking cough medicine that evening.
Ross allowed Hessler to enter the home, where the deputy noticed a
large glass bong, pipes, rolling papers, a marijuana joint and a bag
of marijuana on a coffee table.
Megan Lee Hopkins, 20, who also resides in the mobile home, and
18-year-old Nicholas Spencer Cheever, of another mobile home at the
park, were found sitting at the table with Ross.
When back-up investigators from the narcotics unit arrived, Hopkins
stated that she was going to be ill. In the process of escorting her
to and from the bathroom, Hessler noticed white powder on a mirror --
which Hessler suspected to be DXM, dextromethorphan. DXM is often
found in over-the-counter cold and flu medication.
In Hopkins' and Ross' room, authorities found small amounts of
methamphetamine, heroin, a spoon with heroin residue and items used to
make DXM. Hopkins told deputies she was an "honors chemistry student"
and that the drug was not illegal to possess, states the re****t.
Hopkins and Ross were both charged with possession of narcotics
equipment, possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and
possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Due to the fact that
DXM is the active ingredient in many cough and cold medications it is
not illegal to have or use in Florida.
Cheever was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana
and possession of drug paraphernalia.
All three were taken to the Charlotte County Jail. Cheever was given a
supervised release Wednesday under stipulations set by the court. Ross
was also released Wednesday after posting $7,000 bond.
Hopkins remained at the Charlotte County Jail Wednesday night in lieu
of $7,000 bond.
DXM also called Dex, Skittles and Triple C's, can cause a reaction
similar to illegal drugs ketamine and PCP when taken in large or
concentrated doses.
The drug has become increasingly popular in recent years due mainly to
its accessibility. Users can either take excessive amounts of the
original medications or "cook" the medication, burning it down to a
purer form.
Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, seizures, psychosis, coma
and death.
A 13-year-old Englewood boy was hospitalized for an overdose after
taking 17 pills of Coricidin HBP, which had DXM in it, in May 2004.
Many others have been died of liver failure and other such problems.
Two Lee County boys were killed and another hospitalized this February
when they overdosed on pure DXM powder they bought over the Internet.
The Web site stated the product was not for human consumption.
You can e-mail Megan Radish at mradish@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
MEGAN RADISH
Staff Writer
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"Well, I heard a minister the other day talking about the great
injustice and evil of the men in white robes, the Ku Klux Klan, that
roamed the country in the South, and they did great wrong to civil
rights and to morality. And now we have black-robed men, and that's
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