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When Opiate Drug Abuse Becomes Deadly

June 11, 2010 by

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This week, Dr. Gracer interviews April Rovero and Greg Van Ess, founders of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA). April and Greg each lost a son needlessly to inadvertent drug overdose. Their sons each took a mixture of illegally obtained medications, which killed them. This unfortunately happens to thousands of young adults each year.

What is different is that these parents decided to do something about the problem by founding the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA) whose mission is to educate students and parents about this problem and also to provide a framework for organizations in other communities with similar goals to become more effective. They have, for example, suggested a 12 point program for battling this problem to the administration at Arizona State University, where April’s son, Joey studied. (Disclosure: Dr. Gracer is an advisor to NCAPDA and serves on their board of directors, both unpaid positions).

More about April Rovero
April Rovero retired from Lucent Technologies as a Program Management Director in 2001 after a 30 year career in telecommunications and is currently employed as an Outreach Specialist at Recreational Equipment Inc., (REI), in Concord, Calif.  April founded NCAPDA and leads and oversees all elements of the organization.  Her son, Joseph John Rovero, III (Joey) died accidentally on December 18, 2009 from a lethal combination of alcohol and prescription drugs (Oxycodone and Xanax). Joey was a senior at Arizona State University, and was 21 years old.

More about Greg Van Ess
Greg Van Ess has over 30 years of business management experience, including business ownership. He leads the operational, strategic and tactical initiatives of NCAPDA. His son, Alexander H. Van Ess (Alec) died accidentally on January 11, 2009, from prescription drug abuse, while attending college in Atlanta, Georgia.

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About Richard Gracer

Richard I. Gracer, MD, is the founder of Gracer Behavioral Health Services, an innovative and comprehensive substance abuse program that stresses the reduction of cravings, and has been in medical practice since 1974. He is certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Practice, and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management. He edited Beating the Years, Beating Sports Injuries, and Beating Back Pain (Barron’s, 2003,2005, 2006), and wrote the popular “Ask the Doctor” column in the Lamorinda Sun for 10 years. He is the author of A New Prescription for Addiction.

Dr. Gracer is also the Host of A New Prescription for Health on WomensRadio. A New Prescription for Healthfeatures discussions with noted experts, both researchers and practitioners, on cutting edge, holistic, and comprehensive treatments for pain and addiction. Aimed at the educated person seeking more information, this series provides hard-to-get information and insights, including interviews with actual patients, on treatment of these difficult and pervasive problems.

Email Dr. Richard Gracer by clicking HERE.