Overview
- Maschmeyer’s dependency began after burnout from his intense work ethic prompted a prescription for sleeping pills
- He progressed to taking a high double-digit number of pills daily, which left him nearly unresponsive and at risk of lethal overdose
- His wife, Veronica Ferres, urged him to seek professional help and heeding a psychiatrist’s warning of permanent brain damage spurred his commitment to treatment
- Initial dishonesty about his dosage complicated his detox before he fully embraced a structured tapering plan
- He has been clean since July 4, 2010, and now shares his journey to caution others about the risks of prescription sleep aid addiction