Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories

PRNewswire (Yahoo) ^ | Friday October 10, 2:55 pm ET | Rush Limbaugh

[ThePythonicCow]

Press Release

Source: Premiere Radio

Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories
Friday October 10, 2:55 pm ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Rush Limbaugh today issued the following statement on his radio program:

"You know I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life. So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication.

"I first started taking prescription painkillers some years ago when my doctor prescribed them to treat post surgical pain following spinal surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and I continued to have severe pain in my lower back and also in my neck due to herniated discs. I am still experiencing that pain. Rather than opt for additional surgery for these conditions, I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication. This medication turned out to be highly addictive.

"Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. I have recently agreed with my physician about the next steps.

"Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me. The show will continue during this time, of course, with an array of guest hosts you have come to know and respect.

"I am not making any excuses. You know, over the years athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers to great fanfare and praise for conquering great demons. They are said to be great role models and examples for others. Well, I am no role model. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when there are people you never hear about, who face long odds and never resort to such escapes. They are the role models. I am no victim and do not portray myself as such. I take full responsibility for my problem.

"At the present time, the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete. So I will only say that the stories you have read and heard contain inaccuracies and distortions, which I will clear up when I am free to speak about them.

"I deeply appreciate all your support over this last tumultuous week. It has sustained me. I ask now for your prayers. I look forward to resuming our excursion into broadcast excellence together."

For audio/video clip(s) of Rush Limbaugh's on-air statement, please go to

www.rushlimbaugh.com and/or www.premieretalk.com.

---

Source: Premiere Radio

[mass55th]

It's obvious that once Rush's doctor stopped prescribing the pain pills for him, he sought other ways to get them. I can't sympathize or even empathize with him on this. There's alot of people out there who are in constant pain every day and don't have the money or the opportunity to procure pain pills to help them. I have several orthopaedic problems, plus arthritis in all of my joints. I also have several other medical problems that requires me to take prescribed pills everyday...7 to be exact, plus two tablets of calcium. I've been given pain pills through the years, but apparently my pain threshold is higher than some folks as I rarely take them. I usually end up having to throw them away because they've expired. I hate having to take the pills I do, so taking anything more is an inconvenience to me. And besides, there's a hell of alot of other people who are in worse shape than me.

I wish Rush well, but I can't feel sorry for him. He got himself into this mess all on his own. Nobody held a gun to his head; he did it of his own volition. He doesn't say how long he's had this addiction, but it sounds like it's been going on for many years. And in that time, he should have dealt with the problem once and for all.

His fans will give him this chance to clean himself up, but any relapse could cost him dearly down the road. He will be scrutinized closely in the future for any tell-tale signs, his enemies will gloat, and his life will never be the same. I for one, will never look at Rush in the same way I once did.

[Cboldt]

Excellent way of stating things, Rush. We're rootin' for ya.

Some will praise, some will excuse, some will villify. But Rush is human, and his expressions are at least entertaining, and often thought provoking. I, for one, look forward to more of his bombast, without "half his brain tied behind his back."

[My Favorite Headache]

Oxycontin is medical heroin...nothing else.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

We still love Rush. His statement is a reminder we live in a fallen world and even our heroes fall short at times. They're only human. Every one who's had pain in their lives can relate to the addiction he's had and now he has to deal with it.

Very well stated. I would love to see all those who are pointing fingers and enjoying Rush's problem swear that they would never or could never fall into addiction when trying to combat ongoing pain. I doubt there are as many pain heroes as there are critics.

I will certainly pray for Rush and his family as they deal with a problem that I'm sure no one planned on creating.

I also hope that Rush can find an alternate means of successfully treating his pain and improving his quality of life.

[jetson]

Anyone with severe back pain or other knows what Rush did with pain pills was the only way out. Doctors promise the world but can't always deliver. Millions suffer from destroyed backs with no sure fix. Rush sits alot doing his job, and that is deadly for lower back. If someone has a sure fire cure for lower back problems let Rush and the millions of the rest of the sufferers know what it is. I just hope his liver has held up to the drug intake...his mind sure has.

[gdani]

Probablies can be very slanderous.

The MO of most true addicts is to get the drugs whenever, however, at any cost.

It's not a leap of logic to suggest that the same is *probably* true for Rush.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I'm not. I think he has a serious problem. But hey, I also think that alcohol can be a serious problem for people... but our society doesn't agree with that.

He needs treatment and will get it. He will return to his program.

The problem is that some people revere him so very much that they are now crestfallen to learn that he is human.

I have often disagreed with Rush, when listening to him, and I have never thought he was perfect... never took my marching orders from him.

But, in the end, that doesn't matter. He needs to straighten out his life, for himself. He has let himself down much more than he could ever let me down.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Are you kidding? I'm one of the world's worst.

[RightWingMama]

Well, Rush actually ran with that whole Kitty Dukakis thing quite a bit...

Wasn't that before his back surgery? His world changed after that surgery.

[MamaB]

Hi, Do you ever get muscle spasms in your back and chest? I have had those for the last few weeks and can not understand why I am getting these. They do not occur often but they are enough to get my attention.

[Labyrinthos]

I challenge you to find a significant poster or a significant number of posters who claimed the story was all a lie; quite to the contrary.

You are kidding, right?

[sinkspur]

However, he will NEVER be back at the same pinnacle he was at.

Only to the church ladies. Human beings have problems. That's part of being a human.

Some folks handle pain differently from others. I've never had intolerable pain, but I know a few folks who have, and I don't know how they got through each day.

Pain until the day they died!

[pgkdan]

have you ever sufffered from chronic, unrelenting pain.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Read every one, cover to cover, some more than once.

My motto is that if an author can't live it, he or she shouldn't write it.

[ThePythonicCow]

From msnbc.com, the AP's take on this:

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh told his listeners Friday that he is checking himself into a drug rehabilitation center. Limbaugh says he’s addicted to painkillers Talk show host admits that he’s being investigated for trying to buy narcotics ASSOCIATED PRESS

		NEW YORK, Oct. 10 —  Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh announced during his radio program Friday that he is addicted to painkillers and is checking into a rehab center to “break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me.”

“YOU KNOW I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life,” Limbaugh said during a stunning admission aired nationwide. “So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication.”        “Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me,” he added.        Limbaugh gave up his job as an ESPN sports analyst Oct. 1, three days after saying on the sports network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.        The reports of possible drug abuse surfaced at about the same time, first in the National Enquirer. The tabloid had interviewed Wilma Cline, who said she became Limbaugh’s drug connection after working as his maid. She said Limbaugh had abused OxyContin and other painkillers.        Law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to The Associated Press that Limbaugh was being investigated by the Palm Beach County, Fla., state attorney’s office.	“At the present time, the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete,” Limbaugh said Friday.        Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County state attorney’s office, said Friday his office could neither confirm nor deny that an investigation was under way. Limbaugh’s attorney, Roy Black, did not return a message seeking comment.        Limbaugh said he started taking painkillers “some years ago” after a doctor prescribed them following a spinal surgery. His back pain stemming from the surgery persisted, so Limbaugh said he started taking pills and became hooked.        “Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. I have recently agreed with my physician about the next steps.”                © 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[maxwellp]

Some years ago I had a severe infection in both ears. The pain was horrific so the doctor prescribed pain killers. I filled the prescription and received 3 pills. When the first pill kicked in and the pain went away it was glorious. Then came a sense of complete well-being and then, finally, I was able to lay down and sleep.

Fortunately, the ear infection cleared up, but I can sure understand folks becoming addicted to these pain killers if the pain won't go away. I'm praying for Rush -- America needs him.

[RJayneJ]

He may have to bite the bullet and get that surgery. I hope he succeeds getting off of the pain killers.

[Grando Calrissian]

You do realize that those laws only apply to the little people.

[af_vet_1981]

That he didn't come right out and say "I am addicted to painkillers" right after the story broke, leaving some one this board to think that the story about his addiction was a lie, and he allowed people to continue to believe that.

He did not deny it. It was trivial to deduce there was some substance to it. He had motive. He had opportunity. I would rather a public figure say nothing that lie. He said nothing and now seems to be telling the truth (as much as he can without additional legal jeopardy).

[wardaddy]

I had been waiting for this.

I am not suprised. I am sorry for the glee the liberals will get from this....they will dance the bonfire of the vanities on this for a loooooong time.

Rush is compromised. If it is proven he took dope beyond simply pain relief but to get high which I suspect if the alleged quantities are anywhere near the truth, then he will get hammered period.

Can he rehabilitate his image?

With the diehards, he won't have to. With the rest, the question is unanswered.

Conservatives have to walk the talk. We cannot rationalize away these things like our foes and even if we try, the media is not going to let it rest. Rush is damaged in realpolitk.

As for Rush the man, the human being not the icon...and Marta, I hope he can rid himself of this monkey on his back.