There should be a difference, however, between users of illegal drugs purchased for mind altering alone, and prescription drugs, when acquired without prescription for the purpose of pain relief.
In Rush's case it is quite provable that his addiction started by having these drugs prescribed for pain. The reason that buyers are seldom dealt with has to do as much with resources as anything else, it simply becomes more practical to target dealers, and dealers alone, when law enforcement attempts to deal with the drug problem.
As painful as it is I agree w/ that (criminal punishment). However, as a first time offender I believe his punishment would be slight. As someone who has had to deal w/ drug addiction in our family I can tell you that what the criminal code exacts is nothing compared to the personal devastation caused by serious drug abuse.
This whole situation is, to me, reminiscent of the Priest/pedophile debacle we Catholics have had to endure these last several years. As painful as it is to go through, its still better to get it out into the fresh air and stop the festering poison.
Conservatives will have to put up w/, just as Catholics have, the derisive insults from people who have harbored hatred towards us for years.
The challenge will be to remain true to our principles and not to duck into cynicism and disbelief. Conservatism is larger than any individual and will survive as a movement. By holding ourselves to a higher standard, that is by facing our shortcomings honestly, we will in the long run prevail.
My prayers go out to Rush and his family, just remember big guy, opportunity sometimes comes from unexpected places.