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These drugs are very addictive, and the body does develop a dependence on them. Obviously this is not something you have ever experienced. Regardless, they have their place with those who suffer pain 24/7, but they are addictive big time. The biggest problem is the stigma and misunderstanding in the public about those who really do need them.

Yes there is a stigma. And since these drugs are highly addictive, you can become an addict while staying within the confines of a legally obtained perscription. That stigma should be dealt with by the public. That is truly an addiction through no one's fault.

Rush's initial addiction probably started that way. But if he's been through detox twice, I can't see where any doctor in his right mind would re-prescirbe the pain killer(s) in question. And for that matter, I can't see where Rush would be in his right mind to re-request being put back on something that's hooked him twice.

There's another part of this that troubles me. I have a brother in law that went through a detox for cocaine more than once. During those detox programs, he was not allowed outside contact during the initial stages for quite some time. If I've read Rush's story correctly, at least one of his detox programs was longer in duration than the one day programs we have read about.

My question, if he kept those detox(s) from his wife, why wouldn't she wonder if something wasn't up if he was gone for days on end without phoning home. That's so strange. My wife would be all over me for not calling home even if I missed a night while on business travel. If it was for more than one night, she'd be tracking me down. Most women would. Something's not right there.

FYI, I thought you might find this interesting, from NY Daily News.. :)

Strange but true: Add to the list of Rush Limbaugh defenders stand-up comic Jimmie Walker, the one-time "Good Times" sitcom star, famous for his exclamation "Dyn-o-mite!" Walker, who writes a right-leaning opinion column for the Jewish World Review Web site, applauds Limbaugh's job-ending ESPN remarks about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. "Of course Rush's comments had nothing to do with race and everything to do with the NFL's obscene [affirmative action] policy." And he dismisses Limbaugh's drug addiction as "a single demerit in an otherwise stellar career."

The biggest problem is the stigma and misunderstanding in the public about those who really do need them.

You got that right. Even the doctors have a difficult time with this issue as they have their own crosses to bear.

We/I who need these meds to try to live a somewhat normal life, learn to accept the addiction and manage it as a ever present danger, but a side effect and a cost that we must pay.