Coaldale police have charged a Lehighton man with possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges were lodged against Timothy H. O'Brien, 23, of 250 Laurel Drive, in connection with an incident that happened between 3:30-4 p.m. Oct. 19, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Officer Scott D. Cramer.According to the affidavit, police responded to assist emergency medical crews with an overdose at 272 Third Street, Coaldale. Cramer was met at the door by Mrs. O'Brien, who told him that Timothy O'Brien was upstairs in the middle bedroom and that he had overdosed on methamphetamine.Cramer located Timothy O'Brien, who was standing, but leaning over and about to pass out. Cramer saw fresh needle marks on his inner right elbow, and asked him what he had taken. O'Brien said he takes drugs because he can't stand hearing his father and stepmother yelling all the time. He also told Cramer that he was upset because he had lost his job, car and apartment, and had had to move back in with his father and stepmother.EMS arrived to treat O'Brien, and Cramer spoke with Mrs. O'Brien and Timothy's girlfriend. They gave Cramer items from O'Brien's room, including 10 small black bags commonly used to package drugs. They told Cramer the bags had not been on his dresser that morning. However, after O'Brien began to act strange and was almost passing out, they found the empty bags sitting in the open on the dresser. O'Brien is the only person who used the bedroom, the women said.While Cramer was in the room, Mrs. O'Brien pulled open a dresser drawer and handed him five more loose empty bags, a bundle of 12 bags that were later found to be empty, and two light blue bags of the same type, also empty. All of the bags contained a white powdery residue. Also in the drawer was a syringe, a spoon with a broken handle and a burnt substance in the bowl, with burnt material in the center. Cramer recognized the spoon as having been used to "cook" drugs into a liquid, then drawn up into the syringe through the material, which acts as a filter. The drug is then injected.Cramer also found a glass pipe with burnt residue, used to smoke marijuana, and a cigarette package plastic with what was determined to be marijuana.Timothy O'Brien was convinced to go to the hospital for treatment of his high heart rate, which was 148 beats per minute. The evidence was taken back to the police station to be processed.