Limbaugh to return to air Monday

AJC ^ | 11/12/03 | Rodney Ho

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Talk show host Rush Limbaugh is returning to the airwaves this Monday after a month in rehab to treat an addiction to painkillers.

"Glad to have him back," said Bruce Collins, program director for 640/WGST-AM, the news/talk station that carries Limbaugh's show from noon to 3 p.m. "He's the foundation of our radio station. Listeners have been very supportive of him and I would suspect that they will be glad he's returned."

Limbaugh, a staunch Republican who enjoyed years of railing against Bill Clinton, draws about 20 million listeners a week on 600 radio stations nationwide. His brother David Limbaugh and guest host Matt Drudge announced the return date on Wednesday's show.

"Rush is champing on the bit to get back on the air," David Limbaugh said.

Following revelations in the National Enquirer about his pill addiction, Limbaugh on Oct. 10 told his audience about back problems he had a few years ago which led to an addiction to painkillers that he had been unable to shake. He decided to voluntarily check into a treatment center for 30 days to "once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me."

Premiere, which syndicates Limbaugh's show, has been using guest hosts the past month including David Limbaugh and regular substitutes such as talk show hosts Roger Hedgecock and Tom Sullivan.

[oceanview]

I guarantee you, he is still being medicated, hopefully under medical supervision now. No way can you shake that kind of pain cold turkey.

[A-teamMom]

Rush remains in my prayers. I look forward to having him back.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ditto.
An article in the New Yorker said this was Rush's third try at kicking the pill habit. Don't know this to be true but it would be interesting to know if he tried some new tac and where his treatment took place.

[since1868]

That part is true, however they were only 2 day sessions. Sought of a quick dry out. I beleive he is truley commited now. Can not wait for Monday.

[ChewedGum]

Disclosure is a big help. It has always helped me overcome my biggest hurdles.

Gum

[A-teamMom]

I hurt my back once (pushing the base of the Christmas tree) and for several days I could barely move. I was in complete agony and I couldn't even turn over in bed. I remarked to my husband, this is why people become addicted to pain medication. I took 4 Advil every four hours for five straight days, and praise God my back got better. But I'm in my thirties, so the body still has a bit of resilience.

I've cringed through the comments and sneers of Rush's critics. One even called him a pillhead on his show yesterday.

I find that interesting, since the week he checked into rehab, there was a cover article in the Sunday Parade circular about Charlie Sheen finally putting heroin behind him. No one seems to belittle him for it. Lots of celebs (half the cast of Friends, Winona Ryder, Liza, Elizabeth Taylor, etc.) have had highly publicized pill addictions. Then there are thousands of those who are alcoholics. Robert Downey Jr. has had more opportunity for work since he started buying street drugs. Go figure.

[BlueElephant]

They will probably put Rush on methadone so he can function okay and not have withdrawal symptoms.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I have no idea what a pill dependence might be like. The closest thing to that was when I quit smoking cigarettes in 1986. I quit cold turkey and, while the first two or three months were rough, it took a full FIVE YEARS to get over the desire for a smoke.
Someone suggested tobacco was as additive as heroin. Glad I'll never have to find out.

[HHFi]

I hurt my back in junior high, and have had constant pain for over 30 years. Every once in awhile, I have a major attack that completely incapacitates me, like one I had about four months ago. The pain is unbearable. My legs buckle, I fall to the floor, trying to find a position that doesn't hurt, but moving an inch in any direction just makes it hurt more. It's like someone plunging a dagger into my lower back and twisting the handle. I could easily be dependent on painkillers, if I weren't so personally averse to taking drugs of any kind. So when people ridicule Rush for becoming addicted to painkillers, I just wish they could feel that kind of pain for 24 hours. That might shut their smug mouths permanently (and that means you, Al Franken).

[A-teamMom]

I concur and I will pray for you, my friend.

[ravinson]

No way can you shake that kind of pain cold turkey.

How can you know how much pain he was/is in? How do you know he wasn't just using back pain as an excuse for recreational use of oxycontin?

[riri]

My feeling (and that is all it is, obviously) is that Rush starting taking pain killers for pain but continued taking them maybe in part for pain, but in large part for other reasons.

I think one thing lead to another and before he knew it he had a problem. I think addiction starts like that. You begin by doing something and saying it will only be this time or once XYZ is over you'll never do it again, etc. and then those isolated times become more and more frequent.

I just don't think he was taking them for pain past a certain point.

[oceanview]

well, that would make him the most intelligent stoned guy who does 3 hours of radio every day I have ever seen. usually, its easy to identify a junkie.

[LasVegasMac]

They will probably put Rush on methadone so he can function okay and not have withdrawal symptoms.

And your medical qualifications are.....

BTW - welcome to FR.

LVM

[Dajjal]

it would be interesting to know if he tried some new tac and where his treatment took place.

This is about the place the NY Post says Rush went to:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1006382/posts

[luigi]

Premiere, which syndicates Limbaugh's show, has been using guest hosts the past month including David Limbaugh

Don't remember that show. Did his brother guest-host?

[BlueElephant]

I have no medical qualifications, only a brother that was addicted to heroin. I have "seen this part of the show" before.

[RonDog]

See also this (graphics intensive) LIVE thread:

LIVE SHOW THREAD: Rush Limbaugh.
Rush Limbaugh ^ | Monday, November 17, 2003. | Conservativeman55
Posted on 11/17/2003 4:35 AM PST by ConservativeMan55

Use this thread for Rush's LIVE SHOW today!

Lets see...who's guest hosting today?

NOBODY IS GUEST HOSTING TODAY!!!!!

MONDAY-LIMBAUGH

TUESDAY- LIMBAUGH

WEDNESDAY- LIMBAUGH

THURSDAY- LIMBAUGH

FRIDAY- LIMBAUGH

Rush Returns To the Air This Monday, November 17th

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread