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.

[presidio9]

Because it blows your whole pro-prohibition arguement out of the water?

Nope. Because the idea that alcohol is bad for you will never make legalized pot a good thing. If you think alcohol is bad for you, spend your energy getting it outlawed.

[commonerX]

The fact that alcohol is damaging is not an arguement for legalizing pot.


I am sorry but it is, it may not be for you, but it is for many others. The fact that alcohol is a know dangerous drug but is still legal sets a pressident for the legalization of pot. To have the law be consistent, if we are basing the illlegality of a substance on its harm or its dangerous effect, then alcohol must be made illegal. Or set a level at which the effects of that particular drug is deemed not serious enough to warant its prohibition, if you still want to have your booze. Problem is that the effects of booze, from everything I understand are more serious than the effects of pot. You would have to set the level effect fairly wide to include alcohol.

[toothless]

"Nope. Because the idea that alcohol is bad for you will never make legalized pot a good thing. If you think alcohol is bad for you, spend your energy getting it outlawed."

We tried that. Prohibition creates more problems then it solves. MJ, beer, whatever. Prohibition is bad.

[toothless]

"Actually, I work with drug addicts in the South Bronx, so I guess your sarcasm misfired."

Now I get it, we are threatining your income through forced 'treatment'.

All those people who are ordered to 'treatment' by the courts are addicts i suppose.

[commonerX]

Pardon my spelling.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I know that the news today of one of drugdums greatest and finest coming out against ganja,pot,maryjane,doobie doobie do,weed, and whatever that crap is known by had to be a real downer for all you anti-woddies.

[presidio9]

As I've pointed out from a marketing and distribution standpoint, Pot and alcohol are apples and oranges. Next?

[Xenalyte]

Clarity is called for. Your post lacks it.

[toothless]

lol, if you say so.

[toothless]

""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. "

If you don't see the sarcasm in that statement there is something wrong.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

It was clear enough, wipe the ganja smoke out of your eyes and you will see better.

[presidio9]

Sorry jackass. I volunteer on weekends while you are off getting baked.

[A CA Guy]

Being the son of OZZY gets that young man incredible access to every bad thing he could want.

Pot is bad enough, but the groups of people who hang out doing that drug are cultural and societal misfits who are more than likely going to move on to harder drugs because the groups tend to further decline in that direction. (Including crime to facilitate drug use)

Some even form (mostly drug) political parties to try to legalize substance abuse in some BS interpretation of the Constitution. They seem to rant while under the influence about whether their party starts with a lower case or capital letter. All I can say is "L"osers!

[AxelPaulsenJr]

"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.

Oh yeah, real sarcasm there.

[toothless]

such anger, I suggest some medical MJ.

[Xenalyte]

Let's see here. You posted:

I know that the news today of one of drugdums greatest and finest coming out against ganja,pot,maryjane,doobie doobie do,weed, and whatever that crap is known by had to be a real downer for all you anti-woddies.

First, I don't know what "drugdums" are. Are they like Dumdums? Second, what the hell are you talking about? Who's the "greatest and finest"?

Then, instead of answering my question straight-up, you had to insult me:

It was clear enough, wipe the ganja smoke out of your eyes and you will see better.

I am not smoking. Even if I were, I wouldn't be doing it while at work. Sheesh.

Now pull your head out and explain your first post.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

"The thing that's amazing was how rapidly he went from smoking pot to doing hillbilly heroin."

Even further sarcasm.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

You are so not worth the effort. Feel free to feel insulted.

[presidio9]

No anger. You accused me of being against illegal drugs due to financial reasons. I stand to gain nothing. And if I was profitting from treatment of addicts: Legalization WILL create more addicts, so I would be in favor of it right. I think you were trying to be funny, but your point was just stupid.

[A CA Guy]

Why would he want to become a loser by starting to use an illegal drug? Makes no sense for conservatives, maybe try that one with a Green Party member that can relate!