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

[ThePythonicCow]

Are you saying he should turn himself in (if he did something illegal), for you to consider him consistent?

I don't recall Rush ever advocating that drug users or dealers should turn themselves in.

Our legal system does not ask people to incriminate themselves.

[Angelwood]

Prayers and understanding for Rush.

[Helms]

Before the Liberal Media Goes Any Further, Let Them Dwell On This Bit Of Recorded History (and Imus and Crew Joke About An Addiction Which Is Far More Evil)

[WHBates]

"You mean they'd change the subject and divert the blame? Kinda like you are?"

When did I do that? The question was asked and I answered it.

Did I try to defend Rush with that post?

[k2blader]

Yes, quotes would be nice.

I can't even remember the last time Rush spoke about the "WOD".

[wardaddy]

My own personal views on what I know about his admitted behavior are irrelevant, it's the perception in this case particularly that will hurt.

Rush was is a cultural conservative (maybe not as much as myself and a few others here) ...and cultural conservatism and continuing drug abuse do not dovetail.

I am not open minded on this admittedly...not that I'm open minded on much anyhow.

My point is that Rush knew better but did it anyhow. How could he rail about drug abuse rightfully so and do this with a straight face?

That concerns me...and it will concern our enemies for as long as Rush is newsworthy....which will be a long time.

[Grando Calrissian]

But of course.

However, it would be hard to compare the legal defense put forth by a lowly crack dealer and a multi-millionaire celebrity.

[pgyanke]

He was either obtaining those drugs in those amounts illegally, or his doctor is going to jail.

Did you read his statement? He's been in pain and IS STILL IN PAIN after all these years. He's taking the meds, prescribed by a doctor, as an alternative to surgery. The doctor won't be going to jail for prescribing drugs for the pain. That's what we know from him... do you know something different?

[Darnright]

>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.<

Intractible back pain drove Art Bell from his nightly radio show. I hope Rush, once he's off narcotics, can find some way to continue with his show, and not suffer to the point of incapacitation.

[bluejean]

"Do you know what's disappointing about Rush? That he was addicted to painkillers for 5 to 6 years, and it wasn't until the story in the National Enquirer broke before he decided to go into a serious rehab in-patient treatment program."

A lack of understanding of how this happens, and how the very denial of it perpetuates the problem for years, is the basis of comments like this. It's not unusual for a major crisis to come about before an addict is forced to face the true consequences of the mess he/she is in. Hell, some people 'get away' with this kind of thing for decades, not just a few years.

Yes, it's disappointing - but it happens. It doesn't seem right to spend time ripping Rush a new a$$hole and being all holier-than-thou. The guy is going through hell now and if you don't know that, you're just cold hearted. It's the most difficult thing you can imagine to have to own up to something like this to friends, family, colleagues - and as well known as Rush is, he is lower than pig$hit right now.

This can happen to anyone. The man's hit a brick wall, he's having to fess up and get help. It's probably the hardest thing he's done in his life. I know. I've been there.

And there's nothing wrong with offering up "prayer" as one "sensitive", "caring" person offered sarcastically. Those pedestals can rock and fall so fast you won't know what hit you - any of you. He's a human being, for crying out loud. Crap happens.

Rush deserves better than a bunch of sliming hatred - like the Democrats will be more than happy to provide in spades for weeks over this. Go join them if you wish, but is it necessary to start up Rush hate forums on this site? Can't we be BETTER than the frapping RATS?

My heart hurts for him today. I can't despise him for this. I just hurt for him.

Hang in there, Rush. Come back better and feistier than ever!!!

[Auntbee]

I can not imagine the kind of pain associated with back surgery.


My husband had back surgery 10 years ago. He was doing quite well until June of 1999 when he was in a car accident and his back was reinjured. He had been in such horrible pain this past year his doctor had him on Percacet, morphene, phentanol(sp)and Xanax. March of this year he died due to accidental overdose. I thought his doctor had him on way too much medicine and I don't think he knew how powerful the combination of all these were.

[yhwhsman]

I had an amusing thought. If Rush has stomped the rats as a 'doper', what's he going to be like when he's clean? (bwahahahahaha)

Liberals, be afraid, be very afraid.

[Sabertooth]

if people were forbidden to propose ethical ideas they themselves don't live by, then ethics would be impossible.

This reminds me of something...

I remember once plowing through Kierkegaard ("Fear and Trembling," I think), and he talked about the positive aspects of hypocrisy. The ability to sense hypocrisy in oneself was a necessary precursor to ethical self-correction.

I've always thought that was a pretty good insight.

[Catspaw]

Oh! Just remembered that I have been lifting heavy boxes when we moved our daughter out of her apartment back in August and all of this started a few weeks after that. You think there could be a connection?

Ding ding ding! I think we have a winner...my guess is a little muscle strain which turns into bigger muscle strain, maybe some guarding (protecting the areas of muscle pain) which turns into spasms.

Get yourself to a doctor--I finally ended up at an osteopath for PT (referred to him by an orthopedic surgeon). Spasms are miserable (or, as we like to call it around the house, "1990, The Year of the Couch"). My medical problems were more than just the muscle spasms, though, and I really hated all that PT (I am convinced that physical terrorists go home from work & pick the wings off flies, just for fun), but the therapy helped me immensely.

[gdani]

I wonder who will be the first person who supports the War on Drugs to explain why Rush shouldn't be convicted & possibly imprisoned. Rush himself has said as much about drug users.

Quotes, please.

"There's nothing good about drug use. We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.

-- Rush Limbaugh show, Oct. 5, 1995

Good enough?

[Tempest]

"As I said in a previous post, most (if not all) states & municipalities have a separate crime for "drug abuse" or "drug use". If Rush was abusing these drugs then he broke the applicable law(s). My understanding is that not many people are charged with just that crime. Rather, they are tacked on by prosecutors to other related crimes such as possession, etc. so that, soon, a person in such trouble has multiple charges against them. "

I still don't see the source for your assertions? I'd like for you to cite for me any case law that list abuse of prescription drugs is a criminal offense.

[MamaB]

My brother who injured his back in the Air Force has a traction bed he uses when the pain gets so bad plus he is on many different drugs for that plus radiation poisoning from atomic bomb testing in the 50's. Sorry to hear your husband died.

[Grando Calrissian]

True. Now, do you have a single, credible source that these were acquired illegally?

Your body's resistance to painkillers increases with each subsequent dosage. Rush Limbaugh has admittedly been abusing painkillers for five to six years. The amount of painkillers Limbaugh would need to use to be "effective" for him would be very large, so large that no doctor would prescribe him such quantities. So it can be logically deduced that the substances were acquired illegally.

This doesn't mean that he did acquire them illegally, it just means that its within the realm of possibility that he did so.

[mrobison]

I think her drug of choice was rubbing alcohol.

[af_vet_1981]

When he's under oath. His radio show is not a deposition, grand jury or witness stand.

I don't understand your point. You seem to believe he should provide evidence that can be used against him in his radio show so that he can claim the 5th during trial. That makes no sense to me.

I don't expect him to incriminate himself on this show. I don't hold that against him. I am disappointed in his conduct and any money he (allegedly) may have contributed to the illegal drug trade, albeit prescription. Nonetheless, as long as he does not lie publicy, I'm content for him to remain silent and take care of his problem. Law enforcement and prosecutors will determine if there is a need to charge him. It's not like he is a violent perp. He has only damaged himself and betrayed the trust others had in him. He is still an articulate spokesman for what millions believe, albeit his role will undoubtably be diminished or changed.