A dangerous prescription

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Alex Wolf’s parents, Tamara and Marty; brother-in-law, Bryan Plummer; sister, Kimberly; and nephew, Brody, 3, are reflected in a mirror a family friend made after Alex died Aug. 7, 2009, from the effects of a combination of his anti-anxiety medication and oxycodone, a powerful pain reliever for which he did not have a prescription. The family decided to use money donated to a memorial fund to launch “Prescription Drugs: A Prescription for Disaster,” a public awareness campaign to educate the public about prescription drug abuse. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@svnmail.com)
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ROCK FALLS – Alex Wolf was known for a lot of things – his love of animals and the Chicago Bears, his kindness and sensitivity, and above all, his mischievous smile.

The 23-year-old was working toward a degree in criminal justice through Sauk Valley Community College in the hope of becoming a probation officer.

Now, he's known for something else. His face and story have become the subject of a four-county educational campaign warning of the ever-increasing problem of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.

On Aug. 7, 2009, Alex died from the effects of a combination of his anti-anxiety medication and oxycodone, a powerful pain reliever for which he did not have a prescription.

Sadly, Alex's story is not uncommon. The problem of prescription drug abuse and overdoses has affected many communities across the country.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 48 million people – or 20 percent of the U.S. population – use prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons.

Locally, addictions specialists and local authorities say the problem has increased over the past several years.

A 'therapeutic dose' turned deadly

In 2006, Alex was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. His mother, Tamara Wolf, said some of his problems started after a cousin's suicide.

Tamara Wolf, 50, is a family resource coordinator at Sinnissippi Centers, which has offices in Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties.

"I don't think anybody knew how bad his anxiety was," she said. "It was a daily struggle. As his mom and his dad and his siblings, we could tell when Alex was having a bad moment or a bad day – we could see it in his eyes, kind of a panic, or he'd get quiet and withdrawn."

He was prescribed anti-anxiety medication that he took regularly, Tamara said, and he sought treatment at Sinnissippi Centers.

His overdose came as a shock to the family, she said.

"I can only think that he discovered this very recently prior to his death," Tamara said. "We were looking for jobs [for Alex], and he was passing urine tests to get jobs."

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