How the lethal cocktail of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, analgesic drugs killed my son.
Stan White Father of Marine Corporal Andrew White
Stan White is a retired high school principal. He is the father of Marine Corporal Andrew White, who was a healthy 23-year-old, gung-ho Marine returning from a nine-month tour in Iraq, who, like so many of his brothers in arms, suffered from the seemingly normal stresses of warâinsomnia, nightmares and restlessness. The young corporal turned to the militaryâs mental health system for help. Within a few short months, White became unrecognizable to his family. Eleven months after beginning his first cocktail of mind-altering drugs, he died in his sleep from what the medical examiner ruled an âaccidental overdose of medication.â Since taking his first multi-drug cocktail to the date of his death, White had been prescribed no less than nineteen different drugs with many at ever-increasing dosages, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety, pain killers and antibiotics. The prescribed drugs Methadone, Oxycodone, Paxil and Seroquel were found in his system at the time of death. Stan and his wife, Shirley, blame the âlethal cocktailâ of psychiatric drugs for the death of their son. âWe donât think they should be given to troops in the field,â Stan White said. âItâs worth asking whether they should be given to anybody anytime, civilian or military.â The Whites are advocating more alternatives for soldiers and have testified before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tune in for this weeks episode “Andrew’s story“Â airing Tuesday August 12th 8am Pacific Time.
It has been said that we are only a generation away from forgetting our history. Disabled American Veterans struggle every day to overcome life-changing sacrifices. Their stories provides a vital part of history that has contributed to our American tradition. American Heroes Network provides a way for individuals, corporations and small businesses to support our Heroes by helping our veterans and their families rebuild their lives. They help aim our veterans, looking for jobs, in the right direction, help provide homes for our troops, assisting individuals and their families who have been severely injured while serving in the U.S. military and providing scholarships for families of our Fallen Heroes. This will be a weekly hour long show joined by our military heroes and people and organizations that make a difference. American Heroes Network airs live Tuesdays at 8 AM Pacific, powered by Voice America Variety.
