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I had to take oxycontin and hydrocodone a couple of years ago after surgery. I took 4 to 6 a day and I was drowsy, had slurred speech and in no condition to even read a book. There is no way I could have talked on the radio for 3 hours without the whole country thinking I was drunk at the very least. Nor, could I have done ANY of the prep necessary to do a show like Rush does every day.

That's because you didn't build up a tolerance, meaning you simply weren't used to the pills. My husband takes multiple narcotic pills daily, pretty strong doses, and has been for years. The medicine in no way makes him feel high. He functions just fine.

People keep talking as though being addicted to pills means a person must be walking around in a stupor all day. That may sometimes be true for addicts who started taking the medicine for the purpose of getting buzzed. More often though, it's avoidance of withdrawal rather buzz-seeking that keeps an addict addicted.

That's because you didn't build up a tolerance.

Even though an addict may build up a tolerance, there is a physical limit to how much a person can take before it will destroy their health. Also, the reason for the addiction is much more than a mere avoindance of withdrawal. There is a change in self perception that is at the root of all addictions. It does not mean a "stupor", but the addiction takes precedence over everything else in life at a certain point. It becomes more important than sleep, eating, or work. The loved ones of an addict become affected as well as co-dependent.

How much is is "pretty strong"? is it 30 doses in a day? It still does not seem probable.