Advisors
David I. Deyhimy, MD, FASAM
David I. Deyhimy, MD, FASAM, is an addiction medicine specialist and anesthesiologist dedicated to helping those suffering from substance use disorder and preventing overdose deaths from opioids. He is the founder and medical director of MYMATCLINIC, specializing in managing opioid use disorder and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). He is the medical director of The Solace Foundation of Orange County, the first non-profit naloxone distribution program in Orange County. He is Chief Medical Advisor for Project Opioid and a medical advisor for healthcare and digital therapeutics companies. A firm believer in medical research and evidence-based substance use disorder treatments, he has helped thousands of patients improve their lives with medical treatments, education, and behavioral change. In his free time, David enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and two teenage daughters. He is also an avid cyclist and loves to surf and ski whenever possible.
Veronica Scheier
Hey babes! I'm Veronica Scheier, but you might know me as @v.okay or @okokveronica online. I'm a content creator, mainly within in the LGBTQ+, alternative, and EDM communities, and I absolutely love what I do! I also have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and have been a concert and festival-goer since I was around 10 years old. I've been closely following End Overdose's journey for some time now, and I'm incredibly impressed by their dedication to harm reduction education. Having witnessed the toll of addiction firsthand, I'm deeply passionate about initiatives like theirs. That's why I'm thrilled to jump on board as their social media advisor. Let's spread the word and make a difference together!
Saturn
As a dedicated fashion designer and the creator of @whathappenedtogod, Saturn combines a unique creative vision with a deeply personal mission. Their journey in the fashion industry is a tribute to their best friend, Seun, whose memory continues to inspire and influence their work. Seun's tragic passing from an overdose has profoundly impacted Saturn's life and work.
Smita Malhotra, MD
As Chief Medical Director of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Dr. Smita Malhotra is responsible for all medical services in the nation's second-largest school district. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped lead the efforts to re-open the district’s campuses. She also worked to bring Narcan (naloxone) to all K-12 schools, part of a district response to the Fentanyl crisis. Previously, Dr. Malhotra has been the Director of a Newborn Nursery and co-founded a program that helped to build resilience in children going through trauma in Los Angeles County. In 2014, she started a private practice with the goal of healing the whole child and family by combining traditional medicine with alternative therapies such as mindfulness, meditation, acupuncture and yoga. Her first book, The Newborn Handbook, published in 2020, guides new parents and caregivers through the first three months with a newborn. Dr. Malhotra has also contributed to The Washington Post, HuffPost and has been interviewed on CNN, NPR, Los Angeles Times and other media outlets. Dr. Malhotra's TEDx talk, "The Power of Embracing A Non-Linear Path" has had more than a half million views and counting. It was the second highest most-watched TEDx talk in the world when it was released in November 2023.
Christopher B. Amaral
Chris received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific in 1999 and has been a licensed pharmacist since. After graduation he was a pharmacy manager for Longs Drugs in Sacramento until 2004 when he joined The Department of Health Care Services for the State of California. In 2018 he became the Chief of Pharmacy Drug Contracting for the Medi-Cal Program and currently oversees the Contract Drugs List for the Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy program that is the pharmacy benefit for over 15 million Californias. In addition, he is also an advocate for social justice health care issues and is a member of the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network. (BPPALN) helping communities learn about prescription drugs and their side effects. Chris is also a musician and enjoys spending his free time playing music or doing things with his wife and two adult children.
Tony Mangucci
Tony Mangucci is a renowned digital marketer and online personality, known for his significant impact across various social media platforms, where he has garnered hundreds of millions of views. With a successful track record in both the creative and business aspects of digital marketing, Tony has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. Residing in Orange County, California, he has experienced the devastating effects of the fentanyl crisis firsthand. The loss of his good friend Bobby in 2023 was a pivotal moment in Tony's life, leading him to embark on a mission to honor Bobby's memory. Driven by this personal tragedy, Tony is dedicated to spreading awareness about harm reduction and aims to bring this crucial message to every corner of the globe, making a difference in the lives of many.
Debbie Camp
Debbie Camp (Aunt Debbie), End Overdose's Grant Writer and Senior Health Advisor, is a Public Health Nurse with over 14 years of field experience. As an overdose awareness advocate, she understands the heartbreak of the opioid epidemic, having lost a nephew to an overdose in 2016. Since 2017, she has been working with the grief community in Los Angeles to break the stigma of addiction and overdose. Calling herself the proudest Auntie on the block, Aunt Debbie says, “I feel James's spirit is with me, nudging me to turn grief into action”. Born and raised in the Detroit area, she has lived in LA for the past 20 years. With years of experience in health care, education, project planning and the indie music scene, Debbie is an integral part of the End Overdose team.
Zej Radke
Creating art in all its forms, from paintings to short films, has been the way Zej has attempted to convey messages of hope and reconciliation. In addition, he is a professional photographer specializing in weddings and a student of English literature at UCLA. His photographs have been featured in magazines, and his videos have amassed millions of views. He, like countless Americans, has been affected by the opioid epidemic. Knowing that these deaths are preventable and spreading that awareness is a deeply rooted passion of his. Hence, Zej helps create video content that instructs and engages audiences to confront the opioid epidemic.