What We Do

Addiction is a leading health risk in our society. According to the American Association of  Nurse Anesthetists, it's the leading health risk associated with the practice of anesthesia. APECS was founded to provide a central repository of information for the practicing CRNA. While there is a Peer Assistance Advisory Committee, there is no one person or group of people available to go to the CRNA/SRNA who is struggling with addiction or substance abuse. The state peer assistance advisor is a voluntary position, generally held by a recovering CRNA who practices full time. APECS was founded to fill the full time position necessary to respond at a moments notice to anesthesia provider's in crisis.

About Us

Jack Stem is a retired CRNA who has been in recovery for over 12 years, and was first diagnosed with the disease of addiction in 1990. At that time, the movement to help anesthesia providers dealing with the disease of addiction was in it's infancy. There was only a small number of pioneering CRNAs, led by visionary CRNA, Rusty Ratliff, who were willing to meet the challenge of facing this disease head on with their eyes wide open. Because addiction has a negative image and a huge stigma associated with it, Rusty was literally putting his career on the line in order to get the nurse anesthesia community to look seriously at this life threatenening disease. As a result of several recent deaths and one near death in particular, Jack has jumped into the recovery movement with both feet, determined to help change the way addiction is seen and treated in the anesthesia community as well as in society at large.

News and Events

Coming May 18 - 20, 2007: The AANA provides the first State Peer Assistance Advisor's Workshop in Chicago, Ill. Go here for more information or to register if you are a CRNA.

May 14, 2007: APECS unveils the new web site.

March 15, 2007: The Addiction Project premieres on HBO. The Addiction Project is produced by HBO in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

February 28, 2007: Jack is interviewed by about addiction in the anesthesia professional Steven Marquardt, MD for XM Radio's "Reach MD, the Channel for Medical Professionals"

February 15, 2007: PainEDU.org publishes an interview with Jack Stem regarding addiction in health care providers, chronic pain management, and the impact addiction has on chronic pain relief. Jack's interview is included in the ASI_MV Connect Newsletter for substance abuse clinicians (Inflexxion). Read the article here...