Ozzy Says He Now Believes Pot Leads To Other Addictions

MTV ^ | 07.08.2003 | Robert Mancini, with reporting by Gideon Yago

[presidio9]

Ozzy Osbourne may have weathered the lowest lows that drug addiction has to offer, but the news that his son Jack was seeking treatment for substance abuse taught him a lesson that his own decades of addiction never did.

"I used to think they should legalize pot, but you know what? They should ban the lot," Osbourne told MTV News, addressing Jack's battle for the first time. "One thing leads to another. Coffee leads to Red Bull, Red Bull leads to crank.

"When I found out the full depth of him getting into OxyContin, which is like hillbilly heroin, I was shocked and stunned," Osbourne continued. "The thing that's amazing was how rapidly he went from smoking pot to doing hillbilly heroin."

Ozzy's son entered a California rehabilitation facility in April to battle what was later revealed to be an addiction to the prescription painkiller OxyContin (see "Jack Osbourne Reveals He Was Addicted To Painkiller OxyContin"). Jack also said that he was drinking and using a variety of substances — including Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Dilaudid, Lorcet, Lortab, Percocet and marijuana — before his trip to rehab (see "Rehab Helps Jack Osbourne Get To Root Of Addiction Problems").

Jack's laundry list of controlled substances made his father painfully aware of just how readily available drugs are. "When I started doing drugs years ago, they were hard to get, but today it's everywhere," Osbourne said. "It's not just America. It's not just California. It's not just Beverly Hills. It's not just downtown New York. It's not just London. It's all over the world" (see "All About OxyContin, The Pills Known As 'Killers' ").

This relatively easy access to allegedly "controlled" substances is especially hard for Ozzy to swallow given his firsthand experience with the damage that drugs can do.

"I'm 55 years old, and I didn't get off scot-free," Osbourne explained. "I have to take medication for the rest of my life because I've done so much neurological damage to my body," Osbourne said.

We'll have much more from our interviews with Ozzy and Jack in an "MTV News Now" special report, premiering Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET/PT (Jack's complete interview will appear on MTVNews.com when the show premieres). The show will be followed the next day by a repeat of MTV News' "True Life: I'm Hooked on OxyContin" at 6:30 p.m.

[Xenalyte]

Prolonged use of inhalants tends to decrease lung capacity...

What are you talking about? I have never huffed anything in my life.

Your insults are becoming tiresome. Hose off.

[ActionNewsBill]

Because you have not thought things through. None of you stoners ever do.

I'm finished with you, for now.

Keep up the good work.

You absolutely have no clue as to how ignorant you make yourself seem by your posts.

[jmc813]

The ban drugs logic employs exactly the same logic as the ban guns logic.

It's well known that some of FR's biggest drug warriors are also gun-grabbers.

[presidio9]

Actually, I rarely drink alcohol, I don't smoke, and I can't stand coffee. Grammer school debating tactics notwithstanding, trying to change the subject does not validate the earlier point. The damaging effects of alcohol are no justification for legalizing other drugs.

How's my spelling?

[blackbart1]

Watch how people who have derided him for years as a bloomin' idiot suddenly treat him as authoritative. It's magic!

Amazing isn't it? How come it took him so long to figger this out. I'd say he has some more growing up to do even though he sounds and looks like a very old man. It's a shame what he has done to himself and one would think that both his children and anyone would learn by looking and hearing Ozzie.

[vin-one]

Absolutely not. Pot is less bulky. If there were more around because it was legal, there would be more to sell to underage kids.

I thought you were well informed on drugs, and such. This post shows you know nothing.
If it was legal, it would be harder to get.....because it would be regulated.

[lugsoul]

Tell us. Where is it easier for a minor to buy alcohol. From a liquor store or from a bootlegger? Now, tell us. Are bootleggers more common in places where alcohol sales are legal or illegal?

I'm sure you'll make some stupid statement about "leave alcohol out of this," but if you know of another substance whose sale is both banned and allowed in different places in this country, I'll gladly substitute. The point is your claim that legal substances are somehow easier for kids to buy. You can't support it.

[jayef]

Feel free to hammer away on this dork about his seriously stupid views on drugs. The abortion debate he's trying to draw you into is just a no win. Frankly, it sickens and saddens me that this moron can't see the difference, but I will NOT debate him on that.

[presidio9]

I support the Second Ammendment. My suggestion to all of you Libertarians is to garner support for an ammendment of your own.

[headsonpikes]

I wonder if VA Avocado is making a comeback with a new handle.

The hallmarks are there, particularly the spluttering pomposity.

I always picture a Major Hoople type, if you recall the old comic strip. ;^)

[MrLeRoy]

You absolutely have no clue as to how ignorant you make yourself seem by your posts.

He probably thinks he's scoring big points. Amazing he can even find his keyboard.

[Xenalyte]

I support the Second Ammendment.

Why? Guns kill more people than drugs.

[Xenalyte]

It's a distinct possibility.

[Wolfie]

Hey, there's always Alaska.

[presidio9]

Where is it easier for a minor to buy alcohol. From a liquor store or from a bootlegger? Now, tell us. Are bootleggers more common in places where alcohol sales are legal or illegal?

There are no bootleggers for the same reason that minors favor drugs to alcohol. Alcohol is bulky. Legalizing drugs will make it easier for teens to make a few bucks selling drugs to minors. If you do not understand that you understand the teen drug culture not at all.

[Xenalyte]

There are no bootleggers for the same reason that minors favor drugs to alcohol.

You must be joking.

[jmc813]

I support the Second Ammendment. My suggestion to all of you Libertarians is to garner support for an ammendment of your own.

a.)I was not implying that you are a gun-grabber. Apologies if it came out that way.

b.)The 2nd Amendment does not grant you RKBA.

[MrLeRoy]

[jmc813]

and c.)I'm not a Libertarian. I'm a Republican.

[presidio9]

Feel free to hammer away on this dork about his seriously stupid views on drugs.

Notice that I have had very little to say on "drugs." I'm sure that I know as much as you do, but that is not the point. The idea that alcohol is harmful will never be an intelligent justification for legalizing drugs. I thought you were leaving...