Chesco dentist and wife face narcotics charges

A Berwyn dentist has been arrested and charged with illegally prescribing narcotics to his wife, other staff members, and a juvenile, the Chester County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Chad Gretzula, 44, and his wife, Rebecca, 32, of Yellow Springs Road in Malvern, were arrested Tuesday for the distribution of narcotics at the dental office where they worked.

He is charged with 174 counts of possessing a controlled substance, theft, reckless endangerment, and related charges. Rebecca Gretzula's 293 counts also include drug use and possession.

At times, police said, Rebecca Gretzula replaced drugs meant to sedate patients with saline solution at Absolute Oral Surgery on East Lancaster Avenue. She was a sedation nurse, and her husband was the managing partner.

None of the people for whom Chad Gretzula is accused of writing prescriptions were his patients, police said.

He is accused of writing narcotics prescriptions for his wife, using her maiden name and a false address, and stealing drugs from his office to give her. He allegedly wrote prescriptions for his wife for about 500 pills per month.

Rebecca Gretzula also is accused of locking herself in a bathroom to inject fentanyl while her four children were at home, police said.

Police executed search warrants at their home and dental office last Thursday and found bottles of various prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia.

As of last Thursday, Chad Gretzula's Pennsylvania medical license is suspended, pending a hearing.

The Chester County district attorney's Drug Unit is to prosecute the case.