Features
Family Of Deceased 3 Doors Down Guitarist Sues Doctor
AP Photo – Matthew Roberts Of 3 Doors Down
The family of 3 Doors Down co-founder and guitarist Matthew Roberts has filed a lawsuit against an Alabama doctor for allegedly enabling the opioid addiction that led to his death.
Roberts was found dead at Milwaukee hotel in 2016. He was 38.
Robert’s family claims that Dr. Richard Snellgrove began prescribing prescription drugs to the guitarist in 2006. Roberts remained on the meds until 2012, when he left 3 Doors Down and sought help for addiction at an Arizona rehabilitation center.
He never rejoined the band but continued to play guitar with other acts. Snellgrove resumed prescribing opioids to Roberts after he left rehab and he continued to use them until his death.
One of the drugs that Roberts was prescribed was fentanyl, the same medication that Prince accidentally overdosed on when he died in 2016. A coroner’s report recently found fentanyl in Tom Petty’s system after he died in October. Roberts had a fentanyl patch beside him when he was found dead.
A medical examiner later ruled that Roberts died as a result of overdose on fentanyl, hydrocodone and alprazolam, the generic form of Xanax.
Snellgrove prescribed fentanyl to Roberts because the guitarist “was in the studio producing a new album and playing the guitar and his hand pain is increasing but he has to do the job,” according to Snellgrove’s medical records.
His lawyer wrote in court documents that Roberts died because he mixed his prescriptions with other drugs.
Snellgrove faces charges for distributing medication for no legitimate medical need in the criminal case.
His lawyer wrote in court documents that Roberts died because he mixed his prescriptions with other drugs.
The suit also named Rite Aid pharmacies as a defendant, who the family alleges failed to report Robert’s drug addiction to state and federal authorities.