Former pill abuser now battles drug epidemic in Tennessee

Dr. Stephen Loyd, Tennessee’s assistant commissioner overseeing the substance abuse services department, poses for a portrait at the Parthenon in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 30, 2017. At one time in his life, Loyd battled a 100-pain-pills-a-day habit after medical school. (Lacy Atkins /The Tennessean via AP) Dr. Stephen Loyd, Tennessee’s assistant commissioner overseeing the substance abuse services department, poses for a portrait at the Parthenon in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 30, 2017. At one time in his life, Loyd battled a 100-pain-pills-a-day habit after medical school. (Lacy Atkins /The Tennessean via AP)

By Associated Press September 9, 2017 5 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – He woke up hazy, face plastered against a long aluminum bench, looking up at two campus policemen staring back at him.

A hot sun beat down on Neyland Stadium, which had emptied out hours earlier after the Tennessee/Mississippi State game in 1986.

“Where’d everybody go?” Stephen Loyd slurred.

The officers laughed – until Loyd vomited, nearly hitting their shoes.

The policemen loaded him into the back of a golf cart, drove him to 1844 Fraternity Park Drive and asked loudly to the other students partying outside: “Does this belong to you?”