nic:e of tbe l" ,ck., � lountai11 l:.'mpir<t

THED TUE�DAV, AUGUST �6. l008

A hot posmon battle end wnh Ute Broncos choasmg nme-yea, veteran Nate Webster 3!:i stuting mlddle linebacker "st>oRT:s, 1B

. T l OENVlLl-l .POST • 50 Clltas **

Soldiering on in pa· Troops who

return from

war with

batter d

hodit!. and

minds are

In rcasingly

turning to

prescription

medication

&C> eatc th ·1r

lnfuries.

TheB ttle Within

Sc!cvnd in ttu-,rr?-'.dny

Dmvcr l'off 'Jr,l!c112I 1rrort

Affected soldiers and

thelr famllJes

tell thelr stories.

1> <11!Tllleu,<n t. com/,heb1t trwllti111

B D�vfd Olmnt·r und &in mecy11,r D.mvr.r l'ajt

I t'l Ute lilllt :.ix mouth!l 1Jil1'ui llf� surr:;�1 l'l'I rk Walt;, med ZJ dilicr1J111 prescni,U\111 n1dkJ1• r,.n t, •TL•lleve the r.-itn 01 \', fl

f-Ii.: i:imh huw frotn1ll!I tt�und tour o ltaq 1,ufJi:.tlng fromc:omb.t:i� !ill en. trnumat.le tu:abi bi· Jury, er ·rnt. nnd rclemtess b:itf: p;i111. Ann doc tm'II presn ed tre t n.li!IH tlu\t u1cluJbd 1.) diffo.r­t!.! :p;i wall,·rs -nd :anrl.,u1fl.unumur; -dmgs. plu1 :mtltlc,11'��1UJ.t11, mukle rdanntJ and hwti • jpre<l.Sl.lrc rn .. -didnr. 'l l!i! la•:t twCJ ntriiic:itlt,ns -morphinl" plu m1� lone -wore preS,cobr•o on, Jmd11,)• !1JJrn1,ur.

lie \\ I D b.irl pi1Ul1 ' • .ui'I 1 w,r�. �c:.a. "Wlm11"£Y pul 11.Ull On lhe 1:m•thttdoJW, C b lu 1re:ikedht."C:!Useall we ki11:w w,is th, l I 1-'ail fur hcr­Oifl dd1ct� Wcili!.111' kr1ow.ffllY1hlnKclsc.Hui o.:iu· : ,]�t n LI. •Oh, n , Lhb wed for ting-Wrm pnlIL dli.U�ahut1ld n lim1'"

That -..vcfkrmri W3lt:,: \\"'1 1n I �ri rnul ru,�, woket 1lu:comner i.;conclusmmmn:ed-drut!-m-

tM1c.1cinn rr.rfiveycarsorwui: nlrul'J 1n

in Af�. nbs n • &W\ t01' qm ·rtt m.sri:hlrlir LIQ plHtrm,11: IJ\ ,-;..I

D ·fcn�c Dopbrthl�nl ,ccorJs obtained b1 t1te ll •uvci j'osr ihrQugh a Jr�(lm o( Jnrormuuon A rreque$ huw1hnt r,ei11ltn_gfi1r 11m1::r,ulnm d· k:\t"'ti.. n11depra� 11ii, le ph1r 1• tL · rul �en -;in eplh:p�y n1edlcln t.ttl.'il t ll't!.l pt.,st-rraum.'ltic a tress disorder oruJ bram injuncs bas;grown b)' (ii pen:em to ,,op �nt 1nnce ih,: fr.14 '9.".llr ,,�;ii ,

1ll.:;,llt' fe... ,c.. . "bbl ie.n:d hy m1i11 r-y nu•m 1-hcaW JUt• tc\ , i Ucntlt tll,1l 1u::.1rly 1l, 110 \tl­diCTS - 111 JI I ILJ l .percent ur the fie.ht mg fore� - fwvi: t.Pken unmL:press.1nts flr pre�craniions1ct_lltln plllsll'I 1 h, war zonr.

\ � iik Wahr u1'\ wed the wn: Ulll}' tp .die fron1 pill. tlwv tu11k wrel!OVcr from it.

'lo date. six w1dfo111 m ihe Ann) s ncv. WI rric.,1 TranmipTI Umt4.-l".Jell ,j 1 l !J 11 1hr 111l1e:1! from 1hc: I l)'#JI: tl .atJ I 111;�cb IDf;t woum,h of • -· h-4 d1cd frurulcthul 101bhu?ddru!!tmJcl v

DIIUOi" ll'.

CHUCK a.AMO?.J I With the ht:J_p uihb w1f,..·, SJ1ndra, t_,I 10011 tr1.:tch ' Ill t:.ll ,l". ••••me uf ht baclt .md s'I111uhh'.f pain, 1hel'i.$1th ofuia lr11u­ry in lr11q In f.lltdt, CJamon IU'I usc11n cuncand ,, �es nwr tluui :t1 pllli Ii day for pain nd 1111:ril".ty f•l1t ju\b)l nd1r(!r -. . � t p.;

This sp d's ot £ r you Infl ctions mi lit i---� .. te ce p eemie births . stu y fmds pot.,tu-chtp, h nage hns U

mot in c�rgy field :md Ut • switc.h to h.igber•proflt crops. l3y te\•e Ranhe 11tc: l.lt'm•c:r firr.!l

\.Vhal. n cli1pi;? rot 11n ,•.htp o.Jitrona lo:, ili!!Cm'tt-

Ul the11 cherished 1.oack may be m shon supply.

And 11 they Orui i , tl1cy'rc hti:lr to pay n brt nwr� fodL

The rroblcm: not enougt1 diippinj! spud$ ·o supply 1rumufaC\urers.

·1 · ,mldn'r u11e lfu:. w,)rd • ,h rta�•• u. ,r,pli :s mt ffl1rly tlmlrccl." ill!Tln1 •-•'Ccmnor. or-csidi:mttnd cliiefa­�cunvc of the D=er-based U.S Potilll•

� 'l . mv. thctt�1vc. been , m {retail ge.c;:wt1,.re not 11 ,,ro,l111olfl re-a (: every r! y,. K per, h:, »nsted si� in

, arlu� usmmt:n !h:al \.uious 1-ands �•l' di.tr n: 111 � t.emr. nlru}' ;J0!1Cllt

Pou,roet I 1dl \llrttrlcs it c.r 1uppl)1 ilian \1 w..l beotuse 1• �-n �recy1in� ttrrepl cc:r w1.lll c::orn. \Vh · r1 hM , ..har¼invegQn \l,i tOf r�tefGStettiumpo• IM'!'..

·• � rlcliru e1 ,u sli pot..nut's," $!11ll lu'l t ,1h wil h hcr husbart f, f ·�ccd5; Yu.kous am! 1111�:L.'ltmi;s nrllf Gree-

' JPS» 6

8} Luuruu Neersaard.1 he Hsoclatc<f Pre ..

WAffllJ!JOTO�» lnlccr 1t1ai. nrny pla, . hir,1• •r ml · 1H nrcllllllllre l.llrtl1 thflil .Lkrnrs hJ1, · Lln.111ght,

ysanewstnJ� that lc:>11n.l I noSI cme m sc-vrn women Ir, J 11 LID la• ht,r It rh ircu J,,,ctc:nu nr nmgi �D

hr I \Dllllllticilu.id . ll' � ,m111.ll studv. at l -ili�n'l

prove w, 1b1. 1{\:11 1t l 1�"cr,:G the '-1.>rty 11Lx1r H1 ,fo1u�Jy'ti research b J •U-r:dtt]u 1 ,nu �uJ nr tettin1; o m,., •r.. 11 , ro, lhnl iJ'dlrl.,ry

metll�<1 1:,., nri It 1hus Utr, ,iverc,1

ml.) wcun •u �vJlh !iimmdn mtn:­tlo!\$ iht.uJ �iou1:Jr t> tluia d.

1110:morchcavityrnfcc:11:d the. m• 11lotlr. Ou1d h1· 11"1•e M, ·ly the Ytanran WM t11 dilh·i:r a iunger si i;e:rb.1b ',I �u1 opmr Jh l'LU!i One, Ille rm In� l•wrnal ,if I1.t l'.uhllc tJhtDrym �c1 o �

'01 c tM t1hlnkuoyo:rgwuam� be­Imm ill h!!::mtruudcu..- ;,ti,1 C.t 11-fc,t'd Unlveish)' m11;.i ,1.w •lc,�is Or. t:i vnt Rel111ur1 1 lhc :.tuc ·s�ntor 1u 1l1<1r "Yvu\l hil� i:o pr!'"sumt tl tt! .. Slllllmimt Wfflll!,.

an: uiJu& halt. :nil ,m. b,1h11: ,:i

EE I s»,A

Business )) 5-8C I Con, cs H 7 D Contact · he Post » 2C Crosswords. 11 70 ! lottery 11 2A Marketc; >1 6C I Mov,�� n 4·5!> I Obitu11,;�o; )) 9C r-----�---- --���----------------����-------• --..... ----------------------------------------------------------------1.-

ll!E DE l�VH� P05l • DENVfRPOST, 1-0M T llf�l)AY, A• Ci ST 26 , 2008 NEWS «13A

: Troops overdosing increasingly co1n111011 (( FROM 12A

11re) u:ll },111 'I.Jon 1 dm·e1-Ilh1!i.lrvclil­c:.lc .. tun you cau �n 11 Qt a m:u: hin c gtiTI ou Pllt'WC " COV('I cl1J

St;t. J.St Class Chuck "' lamon n!so s lna­,rill�t1 ·y lhe p1lmher ol d.rn{;s hebas Ileen prr �i:rint-!l r;mcc h �•11,dmur Marc_!-. il., um:ini,. ha 111 J m ur tu lrntJ.

An ln1r,rnvLT,erl l!'.:q.Hosivc <lL'Vicc hiL u t ruck l i e J \\ 11 h ummunit ioTI a fe.w ieet nhi!.:ul cJ f I wnn � lruciWhc::mh� ilfflmu­ncio, l· lew, hh h ,id $TTIUI: 1.?cl 1,n,, tlu: wind.shield HiUJiinosl.um:tui:'d into tl.,,.; :. -dios :Jehi:nd h:im. l:hs shoulder d1.Sli.>ca'kd.

owhdS(IIJl: Qfmyrethrm 1 l oou p 'Q('W Y; Ith li�v ru1.:rt-d II w We "· '"ill� ,, n Uplu, wl re durcll •ol�lcni u1 nm� fcm�d tu rttu�m-. At 33 f1d Wi.tl.ks whli cane and , ·cai;; mJJU:,- :li Us: 111 tlu: fl11or wh.u..ht. l�SW'i! O\lt.1'· 1undin\tht..1dli I . :; form be.hind hi . ' ' • dis llil1Jt-U'nllmcrnn­:r) isg1 ,nr. I lls haod , hake untontroll 1bll

""'Ih.t:y think r v ·, \'•' ropccl ;1 ��:21111 e di!i· onh--i: m my lci ruma :whcndt Uoes wh 1tt It w.m1:: ,o wba: dL wanl'I w, frnmmy '111�.! rips :tll Uie,Y.n" (Ip lilmy.shuu.Wcr. lt !:i<)uuc­t� all OVl'l hct• lacc,,. hes:ud.

He takes ScJ:oi:1ucl ind /\mlw.:!n tCJ �lei:1:: ViCt1dln, M�r.mn• 1pn11tt1 411tl N� 11 "' • tin fnr pab, plu, 111 "TltWCPTCJ!�an rnJ ,1 muse.le rel. :ru1

Ht. $.1.ttl 1111:: Auny,-i; drt1F,, m: hdr,1T1g -bhdmven't gotten f(I du:: root •lf hl: m ➔!­cal \s-:;\lf��

ffu wlfo wi:tlh tt1e d1 ,gf, .tUrrw� tlill l::..wu

t:1kes oul th� 1:-•sh J feel helti l�s. hr: Jnid i .Jon·, ieel Luce Dn .adivv 111:rson l c.rndd \:.Utt: Ir.a :dxlW: .lrlunlfy l1•:ti.-i11� I he hou� n�w,•

Snltlin- g, •� "over lb� cllgen

fu,:r {:uni.lies Are iling- ht! he r I he' eockii,i , ilf medic:ifu 11 RlesL!r l, 1 ur c,; 11.1 •3.l illieiil, head injuri� um1 bod\· i:.nru. Jrc lctlwl

, ha� hgsd1lat•gt:r "wus cno1Pli·1 r � Lt lf. 1a · tP wfl1!n:he u!!urru!tl fnu,1 lus firs, 1 •ur iq Ramdi. h •rt in..: Q�, 4b. nll,)tlt&, J\.llie, salct l1 V."3,5 •) hnt 1h1' !LJJ�d tlldt!!J u�

w.-is drm!futt. At n1[lll h,� t1.1ld mi; horrific s 10 "&e . I 'ht!n he'� l!Jl tc, lit'!1i. ;m d I d JU$! � t lh r- nc ' = "

t , , 1e r11iJ$:;,111. tJ.e l iJUt1e; 71,£:irine h d ,c�11 his m .·nLur. fi':a: · - .md 1 1 !\,l · mar f1JI_gt!rnld - uit:,lll' wv1.1m.!.d t y a r �1:ta-l • cie t:�m1h. J i:hink irutf w.t I l.r ....u.;i­l \ �, thlt Jhlil Cli.,d 1vcr (he clgr- 10d �•

Bv David Ollngcr Tfi IJ.mvet 111q

F U' _:,lr.S<Jtl �I I r:.rni1\' 011 .<) l1:.11Il rnr b,. wm: 111 lrMt witt• ,,1tl It ·- I,)( r = ,t.Ue tn�Irul) fnr , , -�,. ; n,i

, 11a1u. Jt1 A.pdl 0)1 r ept1m1,i narn1 ... '{llcint1!' hld

ooc:n >t<l!L"ll rrom ner: 1 'Fcirt Jr.win, a mun lDg bare in ouih.t-n llfom� Hcr rm�-

'1 ' om WC'l'l: D1)1 r�d.. Wft!llU sl , ., , ,'Jl 1e1ur new .medland.. l.ridwling

mmp)_1iw: '-1n ar ,, Lhr�c d ,_..� unt.t n · \·.u; 11n: -

-tibi,;(I thf pnteru u.ew bJt.cli of r111nkllJ­• .ru:r hrnJ: mat� h�Al I hl!r m11;mlm! m

l.u!i .sleep 1 _h,v:n. 1 ;r.10 :1,m. 1hi: , ;a folllld 1DlCODSC'.ll'lll$ on liCI COi

On, a · , e,x--ald sDldler ,rim � 1t.-

p, 1ttl 11r 1 ien ,t.� h< ,�,jffl1'.n lm,l tht> klds he kill.t1 111.11 �ot wim :' h ·:. mmhcum,t.

lrr \1 ,U I :J uo,r rJJ e:::.chlaet;e1 ,old a sub-n � 1b1t �e c·11.m eJc:1 he 'i'll!. Jrinkinf a

hl�. J' ui '\ htsk,. t , \Wt' t 11 t l11Le h.mu·s ev­er Jay llL .Jl:athLI saiJ h� !so � liVlllJ!i..'<i l,15 mcmal-health rrnblems to a ser1;c!lnt 1\,, ,i; u,-,: 1 h1111 or ti l'lf- illnes, t, i aw,i<1

ht• "' t l)ur Olliw:,W q'fil' " <!� sui t ba, k tu R 11111di

hL next rnonth Whell Jn: left: L":t.q m �11· v: •m'Jet, he nigh[IJ]J[[e ,md hal.luclIL.ltions \H' .. C g,·u ing WOl ,� i.,, ,,,dT□ll!S he -✓0uld

l'llk � and � Flt. Jr1Int> bc,n1.li. bm1. He l!ttt�e d a .rubslsm.:e-abu .- J)ro�1111

· n J\ p"'ll lht:n was referred rnn PT�-l-\ n at -n1;<n1 ':ir. illtv. liu u.-h.ad :l ,.-:.Jtlnk- I sl u.nd

" Lh , � JH f!ll�tnp \.� l11t!' CJ\t l , " lri;:; m1,lli­l)f 6ff1Lf.

in he IJHlAnt1m b, v. .is •iriiet:ed bac1-1 �a1he Tu�nT;yJlini: P lrno, h: �• · 111 t lte r.111l h­t:ru.C:tll(omia lie r• HL ,1 1 1m 1 1 n•01 tnient of medic:ili.on - .al,_�b JliU, .1

:ac<la11vi:. RJJ nnd,fopr�s'!lllt and Scwquel.

He- al ;o ��an tal!in� ChanLi·:, an anr i rnnking ,-f ru� the r �de al Aviution Ad 'T 1u11Strat�u1l l t'11 •nl l y foruauc piJuh ,o \;j b ·calL • II b.ad I •en linked to �dzm:e,. l r1ss ,Jf 1.nni.,:-i<JWIIUl� and oth�r : . .--iou s1d1; c-fft:d�.

Ol i);sc,hl:u.:�'-' _ roornmair 1a;,L1 mov • df ba�.. Su !IC VI lS alilut. ,vt en 11.: r.:-­tuml'lJ ham� mr a viut on Mllthf'r-s Da'. M��· n , l11s fomll� nom.etl I, .- �ermed cn�­J ts,· '.\bon hov. man1 p1llii n.t· was t 11 inl! -md ,,,.,h,m h< h u-1 calr1.in them.

ll,«lc :n hu" , •se he made lm Ws-t pJ-JJ.Jnecall 112..48 -m Ma; 17. Two days lruei , hisJ JJld:1.. \driGUl1:J Avena, cJllL'd 10 t�•11 h 'mher w• ddu ,: tw� .1111<1 ,irnvcd, but �tw 1u. nhi v11 1 , rJW l. �h �- II "d ,hL m �, d t 111Ja1-,':lm nJt b· . " ,Jc ,n. 11. t-uull •• 11 ,. 1 r.:.m

M,1 _c.:. ..ftcr fnmli.: _'3.IL, and Le-.:i.l .x1cssagc�troIT' Chad's ri1m ·ee 'llld ot™ID rwo !\,ta­' rne '" t Lll ,., �r "It h1 • rn ,in , f.� I 11Jndhim:ilw1 · .md L, l -,m t h 1bo1

Hi_ 11\vtb r ,UBp,.i;o,, tin son JV;r..u'.lLi.l ly t• ( too mlIIlyp1lls She also 1ounct ; , re-

JlJLIII ouoc;C:TIAJlGER nd ADRIANNA AVENA I Cllmd l')li�htl'1:;t!T� lm1tlu!r an�I 11iln,.-e !ol'l.:,I I photogrnpb.; <tt hlul m Jull�1 bum, J ullc: u J)tCIS Ciwd d1 J of :m :1ccid�nnJ ilrrlg ovn-dt\ hut l raltini; fm · ({,rm.JlrL111.1rt un Im d�nlh in 'I at .l m11li.ny b� lii TWi!fft)'llUI� P:tlnu,, Cllll(. ri,' 1• , n , n.ir lt.-n , • 'o

n, 1m 1- ,. ,IJ � w�. prCTTl�•uocd. ue..J an JJrn.1r I. .. r. 1 , , , ,Ile:; i re-i,ort cuucJu<led l:ln 'a, ci1k11ta1 �,�c1 IJl)Se '"' ' presc-rrj rox , medic:.1tions," rnuseu her •k uh.

· 7re night h-fnn: �h� --liw � Ll ,: : 11.kc-Jl• h , 11udt�r .1 , '1T1ltru:" ; \: .Ji,. ::>.In fictn;ri. d!Ju, rourH11 i.h, nti cor<_;1 1 , r'l': 1nvt:St t'J.limL

\, k · .. y ()rt l i l,hllc Cl)r(lfu r � •1 1veittg •• -.,. ,tor her i.umhiJ:r d no, :.u1mrt hkl'

l1 �c,c I 1h.. lie W:U. "lriK> cd r?'' :Lllii llir-1 11i; her •ord :.:ml l!Ull h r <h.Ui.:litt;� .tu-

mitt�\1 11he Wli� "uU I ul lt oec':\use c,1· 1 1cr new m�crnt:s.

Th.-: ;:<tro?l�Tf , i!-p�rr u.,t�d th::n iliree '1.iy� \1 fort! h!!t Ul!:Htl I r Lu] :-iet!n r.re-

ttn1Jt-...L t.hrtn: ai.ni:illt:DJ - m ., lilr i! Ml I '3te,�bar�o:n and hydcoc ldone - llllCI pn,1,ck t ,I.Jxanl m rkeced a- f , c<nil Ho\-

t t� llf i:uuult C1 pa.r.klll1.o, ,iw , w :uuJ ik . flrf:j.', a.Il w� found by her 1-")t.

Ort� ·1mnhtfl' lUJc! the corone::r tna :ier 1 1 1 1�1 • ,. 1°:I h":n t;, mg mc.:l'!kmc-, I 1r 1, •� allu tl.l< i- r-, m :,Lemmirn from � rJ,:­,;:!ml••'!! �uo, rafu c111l1b im'1, as ,. d l :is Prozac for ,iepresHon,

l•'eU w soldier · :n:count 11' · 1 e-nutll :, Th �•i:nv r Pc I , a fe]il; �

uhl r whu i,LJ uo "'Ull. In ltl i<lcnti.-wtl 1orfea: ofrepncussH'll'> iron· r-pc;,' ir � nut, '.:u1d ti1 t11 Wc,, ,1rn '•)11 1nium1y Ui;.;ip1r4l tuld Oft mt: L, i tltJ .J( 1t 1£1.,l :t :i: !ll!f 5fWi!ll m� w: t.'11 1nf r9litc rcP"Jn nd flm.l

R�("1111l rt:ltl!.� to me.n t:jlnli ht:l!!luse hc ilidr,1 w.iru �o n1.1 ,, bu; dc�" ;ibmu 1t

A ph1'l',ir.::.lll'• �i;,tax'!J di.en prescriheu

ceipt for a six-pack of beer he had bought on the base.

''l believt> he hau Ut'('n ly,ng theni for three days," she said "'fhe b,1IIacks are supposed to be i;hecked dailv. ·

Timec 1 110n bs later, sh h "\'ilit i ng for a fornul report c n hcr son's foJlh

'ih ·nmlltn.1tinns ..an he fato In Wcllt Virginia, 2,3-vear-old Andrew

White, a Manne re�crv1st lied suddenly this year while taking the 1IOiidepressant Paxil along with Klonopin, an anti-anxiety medicine �nd massive do�,,.. of S-eroquel.

His f1t1L�1 Stl'ln, said ,\ndrC'N's mental beaJ1 h l· • tcnor,., ed ·1fter ui.:; brother was a.illed �fghaulstao, and th ... J.arines sub­sc:qn_-ntlv t,,!d twn � ... , 1uLi he flh"lt:'for a sc,::0110 10und of ,:omba. m I, aq.

1 le <:t.:neil ltav1'lg mg:htm tt'l:.4' l':V,;f)' -IH1n\. ,. ·nt , ·-wnnill tr;::; n l\,s,;r , ".tJn WI I : :,,u< l.

5.,:roqlli:L an ;JI1lIDi,vchotk: drug, ii; dis­pe:ns� i m doses as mutit m 25 1niilicrams !(ti' apxir••y a11d msomma. A i.loctor v·ith the n,·partment of VcJcran:. Affairs and then a nrivate psychiatrist botJ- 1m·�cribed much Ltrl(er doses to Andrcv. White - up m 1,000 milligrams a d,1y When hs moth-r ,;.:,rne homt: 1 rom v., orl ic�b. 12 anri tcn.attd

h1• 1 .1 pn um.!1,pons • .: h was also taking I'm illld Kh>nopin.

St:m Wlut.. sm j the state me iic::rl examin­er i 1 1le,1 that ms son's 111;;ar ,1•1t: 1r:C1dental J11£ I ,, ,ntoxicatio1 t om.P� ..nd �JO\, t..!l.

•0htch1 ' saiJ 'ibe Jld ru;t ·. mt to com­

ment l n an indlvidual case. i:i u in gPnc·rnl 1,000 mil1 1tm1ms of "iero­

qud would be " ;m wonnnus da::.i.;, ' s. he said. "Tht! normal maximum dot.e would he about 8uo milligrams a da1 •

C,hc said the Army maintain� .an electron­n: m1'! lical record that can "put up red flags" wh ·n a soldier is takin a combin;n ion of Jnu;:-, lhat � an have dangt ,-ous side L!ic:c

Lim h:ll !l:afq;uard i,:ets complicated by the rcahty · hat ,oid,er;; itomerimes seek to avoi!I 1 1 : stib'TTla at t<1 1t11.;be ;avioral n, :d i­cation b} getti , hi.m fn m civilian doc­tiJu. Awi tltl! Anu) ._ounrs m it; rnldicrs to take mecticines as pres,ribect

"The soldier i.'l an a1 · u " t<it chrr, said. • We don , want tCl be Bi� Brother:,. •

.\ndrew White was one of four youngvet�rans in \Vest Virginia who died thisyear while ta' mg similar combinations of

DA'UaS 1> 15A

morphine and other painkiller.·, and Ort "was ob1--erved many times falltng asleep eating, red -:ves, uncoordinated, stumbling when she waU"·d down the hall, and could barely get up," the soldier wrote. "What the doctors are calling an accidental over­dose is a cover-up for their mistakes.''

The coroner's inv•:esrig,1tion found no ev­idence tha Ort w!lJ.; n ti< 1dal - she was en­gaged to bt: m3.tlled in Jun •- nor that she had llD1 l.lutoq1 cf drug ,ibrae l'ox1eolo­� t•!strng 1s p0':it1ve for several prescnp-1 10 11 rnf' lidncs and they 1ave s•<ie e•1 ·-ts of dr" ,n1t·, s, t!�l,Jiratctry del) �.;siou hy-1'1 t:w,.\un •nd conu " ,he rep rr .am:lui:­t:d "Causr- of death is multipie pre11crip­non drng 11 1xicity, aud manner of death is a<:i..,df"llt. '

r- --

f

(( FRO M U,

JN.:Q lc:n:idnr P I 'D £Jr I..mrutl anutlier. UHe \� ali c.nk -

� l,1\ ofrudhci11i!!S," bi.s w1k. i u •, �id. l'!Wl an�� · !T<!4U!!I. He ball b,•un ro�g Kl• nopin. ll ·, .u �k:in1n1�m med J int!� ) llU should not di,. rron, r'll I l� P.,'11n medu:mi.:w1ch FI'SD.''

} hs -s�plom h 1rl NOrsened waJuallv­after h1.: <:ame hvrnc. trr)m lnq in zoc .> /-,,n ya11ng \Vt-st Virginia N.it,ooal ,Wlrds­num ••hf, u., ptiys1callv li1 II ba, 1 � lear l1e:.ul..He a,_<; r,-Jlllm, He was cuy"oilu v. a..; (wtn • fa'er)'onc \\' i.tntt:11 to he ,a ouudhini." his wife srud. P ilr, l1C l1 rui J,.'"r'"IWD:i.qi;ry and wit 1dr.lwn Cl\'et fr(lm W l'-<.1: ftk'fnlJ "lt b"'Qt to r.he rolfll ,i, Ii ·n 11'1 !wo1fuln'1 t".Vl'll. f'kk up the pnon.- »11,m .be\ c:ill, .•

Fin,1Uy e b,!giingoh w V/. i1f•Sl'irat {ndnll!iWVe J"1'!il) ucum,unr. Tlt nu:di­l':"tti\1U ud c:11un.ru1.fone with othar v •1e.r­llllS hdp�d l\mune1 1uilly, "lwt pbys1calJ)0

h.: was deternm11f11� ' bii; ,,fl said, "Ev­rf)lthing !mm iTurretl pt�h to exc:. �­,jv.-. �cl_gln giuti, malnhtv u, ur1ru11 1; wouhl ahukt Ill\' :kipc:d ircmur,. ln lu ; hantls l. ve11· ,\'eek nd he C\lme hr)mL·, it wa rume-•hm i more i1 11ticeah!e.�

ln )1111U!UY, .. 9-icar:'<'IW 1.a,or. .amu home front l� hospital for the let 1 in10 l-k die.if 111 ltili !te_p tfht night.

Im .wife S:lld tl11� J-at!1 cenfticut li;i1cd .i c:onih:na iQn 01 tour dru s a,., thi: cause; 1i:1ta:,ctiu �neuc Paxih, m11rphlru!, ·�­: uqm I nn!l u� painklllcr Tr,Hm�!ul.

\I\. �\ma , lm•estigate dl--:1ths n, montl1, the V..A'-s D5Jle• Cl KC!l1 r...l

iss.ue J a rerwir. , n Jic �kath.� of \Vhtlt'. a.nd l.:i}'llt, t:t:fenfu� ltl 1h�n1 as l'aticnl A :md l'aucot ll. Tt &aid b ltlmil �e11 medi-­�litm "11d � 1.hos� rre,cribt.-d I ih1 ID r flee J.11_g , U!n 1 ll!'nC) tit yo\.W$?, re u.rr­htg II te·llil'i ,o ll-m.ei!icate osinit no 1-presctinct.1 pr� criE thm mi.:dkal!Ol' ob­taint!d 1rom fricnits. iamily mmnhm ind co-wnrkcrs.:'

1 b r!!P('I r nmd ·'no . apparlmt 11,11 d to hidlrut 1m:.1ea:.di niort.atlt;" ,moug ot.1,er patient� taking tbr: , nerir, equi,;a­lents or Ser9<i11cl Puxll 1mcJ K•·11u1p r i ,

arul tltl lcd 1he J1uly Scroq1.Jcl :.kl.S I r l 1-ttmt A (Whit"" . h.'IU bC1!n rr.ducctl t -eiriU' be d.ieJ.

Sta11 W:htte said .Ile l�Uc:,cd his on·� 4'1etors dvis-(1·a hcC(JuhJ t:ihi: e rnt..'>i!r 1-J rel lf lte "v.-n hll'VUlg b:tu da UUl h' IU)t wud:io.,.

11,e 1DSl)t.'l!ror •orr.11'1 rep ,rr I.lid 4.11�11m wh) a tesldnmal t"TSH prQ si ..m ,-vc t.(llll!4 had refm:1!11 1, capt W11tt nd ofll.l!t-vetcn1ns ho v,er1: IU:e.scribcd the tl.!SL ai tlrns;; th:i in -dutfos h'1ono1m1. n ir:tecirttmcm tcd r --cx. • am1nfugd1ut policy.

u lu rnl)' 9.1rch1c said .iii so.ldkrde.ttlu ar icv.ed b)' the- .at1n-e�I fotc:e� m1: · cJ , :i.:.:inurlr.r, _md be-r 11ffice il.illll \t, al� JOr nn} e1nerging f1111lefw ( pwhleni:: A cIAr.ed w11i1 mcdlcini: uiie.

"1ncre U1 M questiGn thut overdoses or the oo-rnbin:n,.-m of mulr1r,le tn.edic;i tons, oficn cumhiricd wtthna1-c:v1h: al..�ho1 N illewi) Jru� cmi..resuh fo tleatL ,r ,atd . "S<rmc uf tlie �t� h .. ve b �" rul J Jui­cid� and olllt'.rr-; :i.cd,kntal o-... ::do!:es. We are not ;w,-m t>f •lcath 1...,1 have m:­t•urrcl when soidicl"ll weic ri.kmtl lh..:rr .11,:d.1 .. ln-� pt'"' cnhed. ·

R ni:.a \\12ln IIS<lgree Aftet her husbAn�1 iirst r.umb.it ,our,

he ohl. .se1gcant hcfeJt skk .11Jttl w:u h11v­l1 • r1tg.h1mari:• i.nd fie w:u ndvitd tn " Jwt lreei it under vrar.� sh� eahl "I it!.lt like the)' treated lti:m lll:e he wasu ma­.linl,crcr, 1hal !her .. ,, is i'1 1 lllling v rQnr, wifb him,. uii,1 he \\'::Ui Ju ,t paln ln th1.:u: � t be hun n,\uh yilu.•

Ai'ter ltis •or d ct1mba1 tQur, iie timk thedru� p,cscribi- :t ltlm.$.bes:wi w, hc d1eJ.

The Ann)rt:S .. ,oo pcrl!cnl " re· i"' , ;ibk for lilii tltnlbi he said

"He'd �till � Ire h:id the� not gi\·ei, film ttun crnp. itlid I c \\ 1111d have been m<.�llj rerirea ond he r, nably roul11 havt' Ilved cmnfnr-aht, life.'' $he ail! '11 really urscls tnt: Uw nothmg'li �•etG don:� 1bout 11 •

THE SBJUES ond.a.y. 1-acuig t.h '"'11 .:cde11t-

.,1 d"•ruan,11 <lfsrm111t 1fll.l , yvol1Jcr -n h I ha,

:.<!tll ,, < und J an Ii dmt;'"\lcyi� 11 nt soltl1m b4£:k ;1110 1tk. :somet\IIJ.C'S , e.•T11 tl rceomr111:nd11i,m, vf � h �onr Today. flricll6C n pattment ,Ju:ndit11• (1>r narcutlo, .atUlUfln.'S­_, I 1lei:p.in!! pills on .I tl\l i.lru�

11 • uu� lnit .,, me soldi11r:1 co1 •1 r,ntn th.a ll are s:impl-, ba1 md aa1rii w rttum V,..lf hilc rh1

Ul1C ()( th, 1r htJl.!1"1 gc, U l l�tc.J. \VeclnesdA_y. Th!! 111 1rt\hcr ui s-u 1c 1Jescommlt1 • SCll Lli� bus reucheJ us �•rdd I� and tfut .multi('lle depinymL'IlU at ��)' rdc:nt.Lfi� :u n �:m <:.

m. NEWS «SA'{PO'> COM . ·1 1JESDAY , AUCI q 2b, 2.U

THE il'ENVER Pos1 • 1i ENvf""•'osr . coM • 1 u�u11v, ,. i:. r 26, ioos NEWS u.15A

ROBEiY COVEL ! I l , . Arm)' it i1vel off o( JlcH�oL-.t "Coli! lutkcy-.'' J · suos,·qui:nt alt\."mpts o we;m 1lis ,17ur, body fnnn pa nkille.rs 1nct wlth rm �UjlpOrt wnll hll' coutactdl �mt, l!dwiard t'tmncd� ul Mass,t�lw· i:us. \ nl'y Cross. 7, llam r 1 ,n

After GI's injury, painkillers ' e t coming and coming'

.By l!rln Emer)' J1rv JJ,-n , Pt, t

__ ...,. h� i.1m} prt.:,erlht:d l 1crco et 1,110 p1lh -- lb, th� p tn L{obcy

Q\';;,l {'Jl1!u.red o.ftm· lie ln,� r, :d hlmllt:U ,11 FCln Cari•JII while

train1n,g tt1 • came Green He1e1. hir.sixmtlnth� lh 11¢-rcmd "ki.!pt �om­

tng nnd ·omm�" afhs1 he w ·c. , 1 rM si­-·i..11 u, um, in Mardi 100, !'01 I r>�, .r: rlh�.

On some daJ. Cm•e! HJ\)IC four I'!!r.:o­cct a 1,utentbll}• :u.Wir.1jve C£1mbrn,1hon of 1lm nnrc-uric: oxvco,,_\onc ,nd ., ·,. tu 111-norhe.n :th 11 on Ciluse urowslneu., o lier d. ys.. l.h tr \l J.l th m 'J.XlllllJlll t'( m,mcndd d� UJ1der Ann} l"C1!utmil•11$,f1 t} lil't Jlltntunt [-:lJl J'- \C!'l� C'OTI ·

trulbhu ),,,�atWl'l fuiia� rt•kt:n rihs jr. MJJ h

,111cl i kn • lfUUJ) n Apr JU,i r-i w1. a t un­til uµu:;;: 001)7 that lie " u, u h,•redic Jn ·tar tor rns lrncc- n�· t J1en C"M•d -,1'"1

a! •,I.) • tffc: h� l'rgm nt!Ck 1311u l-i,1c- ti ,1 1 Cr nn :m lrr"ur; lw 1n1fferetT u1 lun"" �m>7. Ho b1m hilll�ell' hile rU11nln.., wi•h :i

nr.:wdc �nd 1iirmi; weigl11 -Ln'ii /n1 ·u¥-t, tifl ·l lU 11howt:d Co i 1 f", t

d�ner.rrai d J ,sease in hi$ tia i. tut it w,1&11't 11 11til l'cl tullr:y - et� a onU1:; au cr h • 1mffm'.d the: ui!ck .w I hm � mjur - htn C,1vtl rm, saw a mookl.11 , ,r

From )wt� un\:il r))i.S rotoru.nr , b, N1 l) ­

imucd to lruUJ ttl1 1h Jnil Hn ad1. Com­bat L c:un. 4tl1 .lAfimt ry l'.llvismn 11 I 11..., , w11lrln!_-! .i cfass (or S�'«W .Forc ' ,·anrl1 dfm·:l. smm: day,. C,:wel sru ,i h -.-vorl i 1

•1:; tlu, :rang safct;·(!tfica:r ovcri;c-dnli livemnchmL---ltn Ott.

"'111 .,. 1 l 'OU , 'Dou� drive • n uco ve• hid�• hut 11111 c:m _g() $11• l'' · r 1 1 inc gun un f'e�oc,ct said Covel, \l. i run ,1 few tn(111ths., Cavfl fe lt � 11 1 1$ 11 tu l iad •' \• Kltcd tlu, l lio kti,-.. 1 � 1 u h �orne 'ld ch l. 1n Ser tembel :.!lJ•>;r, I 'l I 1r 1.1 l11 1 .. dt au thll /\1m :; .,ub ,I ..u1 1 l•u r progmn1 nt ror C Inion. uc was se11 o ht. --ighlh ou.!-u, u w:rnnf10110 o 1=e111.:r m

l 1lOfllUO 5piinp. uv ,,1 ti; a ; T� .. n •1ffh 11 dr tin'1,Auer ttwd rn1.t1 d hirnmlf1 1 •be ul1-

2w110e-ihw,c fU!OCl.un.. n: � c<inummd, l,Co1 t. Olll•id 1' ti(; :111m ,UJi}"lrted hun. Cl \"!' I wt111 fa frn11 l�.stu11, P :wt!duum t-�gu pwfessionll ha.set all .. mteumc:d a ha. �lor'i; dego:c ; 1 r;,,tysiolouy m �909 froru Jlr iJg1.:Wo1ll!l' r-t• Collt:g.(..

.A From.isin • bt.-glnnln • lief ore his 11 1\lry, Ccwel lun.l h�t:n �uc­

r:cs:o.ful tt h.111 1rstm. H ·,-., roiuot1•J w ithin hilt first momh fin s1 '"·1ti�1 rn

1 rrorul aad he 1,�nme a u...: I ,e;ut His 1p.t ln:"'1"0tc a lem�.rol i:;upoort o pcrfocs Jtf l eJ dh:..-cl«-.tl m111sdf ln > ucatmcnl .

The te · tci: -1111d. '"U}1\\h �le , 1rom Li�hlh, ll-.t�c. ensure di:1t crvii.u me nl' c!r I ou lrnitl!f 1m ·.tc:d�d Perct>u t. � I h m on nu tt•faterl ttro!ilc ( to l anill ni

1rl ·think ·that- what this

'kid received was;

unconsciona'bte. That's

ludiq-oµs . . ... This is a . . kid

who. when ihey cut him

off colc1 turkey, would

be a high sulclde r.fsk."

rn. 11ob �e_i, newologu.t wr,o w:n wdltal l'llrtctm

ri i. thf· M1t1-•ln1cm �hobiih.1ricm C'cnttt Ht llt•1Jldu

phyim I n 11 ·1 �) for hi b 1 :k, n, ck :md k11,!1: 11 11tl l h� , ,mp 1, li)J\ hC;. 1led ... .::> r'r­vice ,ru,mber ; t1w1tvah., nrt mat ur - ! haw· tull C01\fnlcn!!t! Iii t l : can recover '·om rl1 • rnc:OL'lll."

�ov · 1 I n, 11 �iY • .i profile docu-:tu ,1 ,,111 , · h.,,•t01' ..it :ndicat , �s limita-11,,us llw 1u • 1 t lie.al rrrobfrm - a11<l bl!.fctnre cl,)nlJtml!1l U1 tt.lt1 1nth l11s umt

111 Oc:tnr � ml Nc.weuhc . . med nl rtt'.!'ll Ja • bm, ,li� was 1 • oif lie Percocet.

" I ,ei• amp{letl m .1h n1r1 \'' J ,,•,,s sick as a ior; und thc11J,1t-ct to l:l rain \.\ilh a ti-I' Y1111ry sttl1,h C\n ·I saiJ.

' )r. Bnl, _ c "'f, a ncurolobL. who was r �d1t l hrr:c I r a f Ile Mapluon Rehabil­J".:Jtilm Ce11 r I ' no11l1fL t s.uct he would n , :vcr 1 .ii;omr 1enJ I mt, J�rcocet for mor ' r, :n, 11 t,�v. w .:t.•l.c;_

.. J I : 1 ,f n.;rconcs in h,· milit iry for ct toru in ; �Uy high. I 1 hmk l I bad me 11�mc, hu w,f,, •u1 te-l I 1hinK tt may b 10•1e to 1he st md,ird of coll'-",'' he :,a1 1 I

' ! li nl !hill Wh" I us kiJ nr•'l\-ed was urit.ot• ;cum le. l liar" ht huow • he SJIJ O C, ·� .::1' p t!!'·- 'l'I kms for 1,UO Per­l r,r1,:r. - l h., 1 , loJ � 110 whe hey cut hlm or· �01 turkt·y. wou!J be a h\1h sni­ciJ l'i�

I) �p�r U1 1 0 ' h,: drug morassArre1 I ·n-..d·, pr �cr1r1 ·,, 11 ,'ru.:; uu off,

,. ,uwdllt'ii _ lie Arm\•'s ;1Ut� 'lee­.al use fl • • nn r• <;.l11 t r:n ndc j IIL 11 end �. r{'Qt\1'!1 J\non ::tl lU� (Jl! .!er .ng.s ID Culo-r�JCJ 1:1rm¥�· He> 11 1 1 eop le rheru who ( ht tmnhaoir .Dttri n 11 uu1u--n urinal,

.s.i est �n ·c w tv.' 1estcd I "imr I ror the npiat, · 1 h. r '11 uutiatod ,in 'trr 1.! 15 - nouju llci.11 pu �,urn nt ·01 test­ing pns-lliv, ror uni ·s rb" 1,n) dt �ot - d hirn rn Ml\'��t• anJ .-iok aw :q tioo ; nmomh.lj· 1ta)

Co el i;}, ·k� 1 trt,.dt i�1 , 1 Ccd1u Sprf 11i;$. :1 1•��- eh; w 1c Ii 1sp11JI in t 010-t::i.d,1 -. in"s t hat on)\ lu� • ul ,1.;i.nC'c­.1.l J.'i" 1u 1 •< I n1:1 u, '.pril , a suldil'r from hit; u111t c.,-.u ,v be hu�pital v. 1 11 paper­wor� D dts< hut., • hnr l,om the An. y 1or "'p::ir ns , 1 m LonJULt ' - , ('haprer 14

in .AP' ID , •ITI

"A Chapter 14 a th<. first v is 11 , or m\" unit sinct. I ek •o · tin 1 v, JS thu .. t: 1vd said.

Such a discharge- l!encral tm1t:r hon­orable condmons - would pr ·�! 1 1 .Je h m from getting medical be11eft fl • r hi mju­rics. Covel would have had lo µcritlon the Department of \rci\eran� A fairs to re­ceive medical b,•nems. Cov I said his commanders called him a "---1-iag' and ::i

drug addict. A second MRI, done pnl i8 �howeJ

that his neck and bad ; nJllnt h:rd ,aone11 worse t'Qvel dt>ddec1 he ,,011lJ ... 0ntact Sen. fJi,, . .tr I nnt.et) D '..'vla-..;. Once Ku.11,•u �o in"l• \'t-J, F rt Carson "- lk a :lo:o.er lo"II '-' r ,1 l!! ,nr:-liii ·ui,Hu nd hi 1et.1w·1lc .. m .. I Ic ". l"'l'llt l r J I 11r, 1 ill' , tm , \V:1 r,or 'l nru1t1,,11 I Jt .1, 1rher� ~ soldier's main (esppn::;ib1hry is t(, h 11

"It was a fi�h1 to b.!l t0 the WTt . afte1 countless phone calh m d� l o 1\l81 , C • n. (Mark) Graham; none WLr.: r · li ttle I. I thought I would go o the ,res<; in c c any soldier was sufft.ring in th1; same ._ ir­cumsta ces that I was."

On !-A.1y 30. Covu v J." �n ri�1ma-nPnt profile that limited md'.H ph, h ""I! .ic­th:t, and trigt:e•, l a me · li.-:u l e "thurrir.in board pn,..:es�. The iocror wro � hal he had osteoarthritis ot ll ,: cei vir.J ·pmt o condition I hat mdicJt ,u 1.lt\<l , , 1 JJ1 reg­ulations that h•� should be coruidl..'rf'd f ,1

medical retirement. A third MRI in June showed Cm .:I had

a fracture in his thoracic ft; ;ion a: well as a tumor and disc darn.11�e o his lumbar ,�­gion.

Despite receiving a pnmancnt nu:dic.\l profile, the Army on June 4 sent 01 �ler, to discharge Covel while he , a5 .,! Ill a, ,m­ing medical appoinhu • .rrt◄

Covl l signed th, r,haprer 14 but when he met with Arm1 JI t>u1e, • COVf'l 'flS advist:d that he was ,,, t ing 1 11.; 1 m­around."

1'.t.iW W. ·•mus y hatl dr--v,c'' Covel currently h..11 prescdpriom tor

painkil lers VicoJin and Ult ram, thl mus­cle relaxant Flexcril ;md Valium. and is going through the mi�ice1! ret irement process.

Once Covel's medicul-ooanl r,rncess is completed, Maj_ Gen. M.,rk Grah,im of Fort Carson will dct.:iue herher t i, ar:1.. pl t111. medic.ii board findlni O or ,hscharge Covel fo a pattern of misc,11 tJucr which Covel belwves st,1rtcd when •he Arrny kept giving him 11ercocet to keep l11m on the job rn1hcr than uxing his in1unes.

"I have µ-ood dar, wh1"·r- 1 mi1·h t go tu the gym a couple of tl tn-"'> JJ.ld then it l$

misery for a week. So i ·s good d, � an 1 bad days, but mostly bad ctays. I don't want to be one of thcst I UYII that you see going to the VA evu I w1.d: on the shuttle and getting pain meds aritl C'oming bad<.

"I don't. I'd r:uh1:r be. dead ,u bi> ho11,•.i, with you, than deal w11h r hat kind of lifc."

"They tell you, 'Don't drive a ·motor vehicle,' but you can go shoot a machine gun on Percocet. 0

'Robey Ccvtl, 33., who W:\S prescriLetl 1,u� Percocels in sjx.-monlh period by military doctors

-

I