Legal, prescribed painkillers can be as addictive as heroin

Contra Costa Times ^ | Mon, Oct. 20, 2003 | Jeff Donn - AP

[yonif]

BOSTON - Rush Limbaugh is not alone. Addiction to prescription painkillers has boomed in recent years, and they can be as tough to kick as heroin.

The number of Americans who begin misusing painkillers each year has almost quadrupled from 1990 to 2001, according to government figures.

And many abusers don't recognize the insidious slide into addiction.

"It's just so much more acceptable in society for people to be taking prescription drugs," said Sean Evans, 31, of Everett, Mass., a construction worker who became addicted to the pain reliever OxyContin, then moved on to heroin.

"You can always rationalize the reason to take it."

Limbaugh, the radio commentator, told his audience on Oct. 10 he is addicted to prescription painkillers that he began taking after spinal surgery "some years ago."

He said he had checked himself in for treatment twice before, without success.

This time, he said he was headed to a rehab center for a month "to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me."

Limbaugh may be overly optimistic about the time frame, said Alice Young, a psychology professor and a drug researcher at Wayne State University in Detroit.

"He had said he was going into treatment and lick it within 30 days. I think that's probably an unrealistic expectation," she said.

Limbaugh didn't name the medication, but the National Enquirer, which first reported his abuse, said Limbaugh's drug connection said he used OxyContin and other painkillers.

[tdadams]

Why would your first instinct tell you I'm accusing you, rather than speaking in general terms?

[sweet_diane]

". I actually had someone on another thread say that doctors shouldn't be allowed to prescribe these drugs because someone MIGHT become addicted."

Well, in our society we cater to the lowest common denominator..in this case those that might abuse the drug. It's like how a parent can't take their kids lunchbox to them once they are in the school building because a parent MIGHT slip their kid a gun, knife or Midol.

[TKDietz]

Well, who exactly were you accusing of being sleazy? I was the only one here using anecdotal evidence about someone I know who died from an Oxycontin overdose. You were using that tone in response to my post. What am I to take from that?