Self-Medica tion
Jamal Naropa served with di
During this time, he was given certain medical treatments to enhance his strength and
reaction time. When he returned, the Veteran's Administration medical personnel
prescribed a sim
made him too drowsy and clumsy to work as a tow motor operator. Although he was
offered a half-pay disability pension, he chose to wo
legally prescribed drugs and began self-medicating, trying various combinations of
alcohol, antihistamine
involved a worker’s compensation claim, he apparently began using marijuana, against the
advice of his girlfriend, Al eta.

Aleta had waited for him during h
marry before he left, he put her off when he returned. They went to her church for
counseling; the minister described Naropa as “withdrawn and uncommunicative” at this
time.

Despite the warnings of her family, Aleta came to stay at Naropa’s apartment when an
injury kept him off work for two weeks. During this t
smoking marijuana almost constantly and appeared uninterested in se
to stop using illegal drugs. On her third request he apparently complied.
Two nights later he beheaded her with a combat knife and then sexually violated her
corpse. The coroner's report described postmortem trau
esophagus.

The following morning, Naropa returned to the VA hospital where he killed two senior
administrators and a senior physician before taking his ow n life.

What happened to Al
listened to the advice of family and fa

Jamal Naropa thought he knew better than the medical establishment. Who should you
trust?

Self-Medication
Jamal Naropa served with distinction as a Special Forces operative in Syria and Turkey.
During this time, he was given certain medical treatments to enhance his strength and
reaction time. When he returned, the Veteran's Administration medical personnel
prescribed a simple regime to help him return to civilian life, but Naropa told friends it
made him too drowsy and clumsy to work as a tow motor operator. Although he was
offered a half-pay disability pension, he chose to work instead. He stopped using his
legally prescribed drugs and began self-medicating, trying various combinations of
alcohol, antihistamines, and cough syrup. After a series of minor accidents, one of which
involved a worker’s compensation claim, he apparently began using marijuana, against the
advice of his girlfriend, Al eta.

Aleta had waited for him during his years in the military. Although they had planned to
marry before he left, he put her off when he returned. They went to her church for
counseling; the minister described Naropa as “withdrawn and uncommunicative” at this
time.

Despite the warnings of her family, Aleta came to stay at Naropa’s apartment when an
injury kept him off work for two weeks. During this time she told a sister that he was
smoking marijuana almost constantly and appeared uninterested in sex. Aleta urged him
to stop using illegal drugs. On her third request he apparently complied.
Two nights later he beheaded her with a combat knife and then sexually violated her
corpse. The coroner's report described postmortem trauma to her stomach and
esophagus.

The following morning, Naropa returned to the VA hospital where he killed two senior
administrators and a senior physician before taking his own life.

What happened to Aleta is a tragedy, but could her death have been avoided if she had
listened to the advice of family and faith?

Jamal Naropa thought he knew better than the medical establishment. Who should you
trust?