Steve’s Story

We Were Born with Steve’s Story

Steve Rummler grew up surrounded and supported by a close-knit family and wide circle of friends. Steve was a Dean’s List student during his time at the University of Minnesota. He ran marathons, excelled in sports, and was gifted with amazing musical talent; Steve and his friends formed the Minneapolis band, The Gooneybirds, and performed locally for many years. Steve was a son, a friend and a fiancé; he loved and was loved by the people around him, and is missed every day.

In December 1996, Steve suffered a life-changing back injury which left him with debilitating pain; he compared the sensations to electric shocks running up and down his spine. This chronic pain would torment him for the remainder of his life. While Steve sought medical help, he struggled with constant pain and the lack of a treatable diagnosis. In 2005, he was prescribed OxyContin by a doctor who had been taught that opioids were safe and effective for long-term use. 

Steve became dependent on, and eventually addicted to, these opioids; by 2009 he was filling prescriptions from multiple doctors. He said of the medication: “At first it was a lifeline. Now it is a noose around my neck.” He recognized that he needed help, and willingly attended a three week program at the Mayo Clinic’s Pain Rehabilitation Center in January of 2010. There he learned techniques for managing his pain and was gradually weaned off of opioids.

After completing this program, Steve felt prepared to manage both his pain and his substance use. He reconnected with his high school and college sweetheart. They became engaged in August 2010, and he looked forward to a life with her and her daughter. For the first time in a long time, things seemed hopeful.

However, Steve resumed use by early 2011, and found a “pill mill” doctor who aggressively prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines upon request. In April 2011 Steve again agreed to get help for his substance use, and went to the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic, where he spent 28 days in treatment.

While Steve was at Hazelden, the doctor who had been providing his opioid prescriptions came under investigation by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. In May 2011, the Board took disciplinary action against this doctor for “unprofessional and unethical conduct” and for “prescribing a drug for other than medically accepted purposes.” The doctor was required to surrender his medical license.

Steve returned to active use shortly after completing his program. Unable to source prescription medications, he sought out and purchased heroin, and lost his life to an overdose on July 1, 2011. His death certificate shows that the “immediate” cause of his death was “mixed drug toxicity (opiates and benzodiazepines)”. The real cause of his death, however, was opioid use disorder.