Prescription drug addiction among US military veterans for the Wall Street Journal

Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

A man uses his Department of Veterans Affairs identification card to make a line of MDMA (molly, ecstasy) in rural Massachusetts, USA. H has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in the military and has also turned to street drugs such as ecstasy and heroin.

Eric Demetrion holds a bag of prescription drugs prescribed by VA physicians in his apartment shared with Tim Fazio in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Former Marines, both have used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Mike Fazio, a retired policeman, looks through a room in his house often used by his son Tim Fazio, a former Marine, in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. The Fazios have found both prescription and illegal drugs in the room, and recently kicked Tim Fazio out of the house. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio (left) and Eric Demetrion are former Marines living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Seen here in their shared apartment, both have used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio and his girlfriend Jenny Dodge smoke marijuana in her living room in Newport, New Hampshire. Fazio says marijuana calms rage and anxiety which have developed since quitting hard drugs including heroin and MDMA. The state has issued a restraining order against Fazio to stay at least 100 feet away from Dodge, though neither want to comply with the order. Fazio also cannot be near Dodge’s three children, so they stay with her ex-husband. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. Since quitting hard drugs and painkillers, Fazio says he has had trouble controlling rage and anxiety. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio watches music videos on youtube in his girlfriend’s living room in Newport, New Hampshire. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. Since quitting hard drugs and painkillers, Fazio says he has had trouble controlling rage and anxiety. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Mike Fazio, a retired policeman, looks through photo albums from Afghanistan and Iraq of his son Tim Fazio, a former Marine, in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

A photo of Eric Demetrion in his Marine uniform hangs in his apartment shared with Tim Fazio in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Former Marines, both have used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Eric Demetrion sits in front of a US Marine Corps banner in his apartment shared with Tim Fazio in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Former Marines, both have used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Eric Demetrion displays prescription drugs he uses, including Oxycodone, in his apartment shared with Tim Fazio in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Former Marines, both have used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from injuries and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. Since quitting hard drugs and painkillers, Fazio says he has had trouble controlling rage and anxiety. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio is a former Marine living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Seen here in an apartment he shares with Eric Demetrion, Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Playing with a pitbull named Jasmine, Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio would like to get a service dog to help him control symptoms of PTSD. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. Since quitting hard drugs and painkillers, Fazio says he has had trouble controlling rage and anxiety. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Mike Fazio, a retired policeman, looks through a room in his house often used by his son Tim Fazio, a former Marine, in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. The Fazios have found both prescription and illegal drugs in the room, and recently kicked Tim Fazio out of the house. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

A photo of Tim Fazio sits in the frame of a picture of his grandfather Joseph Fazio, a World War II and Korean War veteran Marine corpsman, on a wall in Tim’s parents’ house in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. Many of Fazio’s relatives served in the military. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Kathy Fazio, speaking with her son about sending money to him, is the mother of Tim Fazio, seen here in her home in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. The Fazios have found both prescription and illegal drugs in their home, and recently kicked Tim Fazio out of the house. Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio is a former Marine now living in Newport, New Hampshire, with his girlfriend Jenny Dodge. Fazio says he has now quit using prescription opioid painkillers and illicit street drugs besides marijuana. Since quitting hard drugs and painkillers, Fazio says he has had trouble controlling rage and anxiety. In the past Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.

Tim Fazio is a former Marine living in Palmer, Massachusetts, USA. Seen here next to a Marine Corps Devil Dog banner in an apartment he shares with Eric Demetrion, Fazio has used OxyContin and other prescription painkillers from Navy and Veterans Administration doctors for chronic pain stemming from a hand injury and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fazio has also turned to street drugs such as ‘molly’ (ecstasy or MDMA) and heroin.