Posted on 10/10/2003 12:17:21 PM PDT by ThePythonicCow
Press Release
| Source: Premiere Radio |
Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories
Friday October 10, 2:55 pm ET
"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.
I suspect we may not disagree. However, you said generally, acknowledging that it’s not always the case. IMO, this isn’t “criminal” conduct, in the sense of a crime that results in jail time or a record of a felony or serious misdemeanor. It’s worth noting that, while Rush won’t have to apply for a job, the question that will be asked of your “first time offender” when applying for a job, professional registrations, etc will likely start with “have you ever been charged with”. The answer is yes, the dismissal means nothing. BTW, that goes for juvenile records as well. I realize the employer, or medical association, or state bar may never uncover the lie, then again they might. I’ll ping you on my post later on some of the special privledges here in Illinois.
Hardly a hypocrit, BTW, until you have seen what people in accidents and ruptured disks have to endure in terms of paid you have no clue. Nerves which are pinched can cause unbelievable, incapacitating pain. Some of these pain drugs truly are a miracle to people…In law school there was one woman who was on a morphine pump. By the some definitions she was in fact adicted. She was going to be on that pump attached to her body for the rest of her life due to the out of control pain that consumed her body. She like rush was not taking these pills/drugs for fun. There was a real cause and a real pain.
I have years of experience with that with a close family member who, due to multiple neurological and spinal problems has been “addicted” and “detoxed” multiple times. This was all medical, anticipated, and fortunately, thanks to excellent doctors, treatment was successful and acquiring drugs illegally was never an issue. But I understand how close that line is. That’s why I don’t believe this is a crime.
This has nothing to compare to those potheads or cokheads who are just getting stoned for amusement.
That’s clearly a different issue, as is a “legal” addict or alcoholic getting in a car. I’d prefer to see law enforcement working upstream rather than downstream for possession, but I think that’s a topic for a different thread, not appropriate for discussion here.
ThePythonicCow, just pinged you since I was commenting on the issue again.
I think the war on drugs is a disaster, but even I can recognize the substantial difference between using drugs that have been completely outlawed, versus taking more *legal* medication than your doctor is willing to prescribe for you.
Unlikely -- painkillers and other sedative-like drugs are much more likely to cause wait *gain*, because you'll be more of a couch potato.
longtermmemmory,ThePythonicCow, from earlier posts, you're not on my list.
The thread’s a little off topic, but I think It’s worth noting that if Rush lived in the Peoples State of Illinois, his FOID would be invalid tomorrow, though it wouldn’t be an issue till the hospital notified the State Police.
If Marta didn’t have an FOID, possession of a firearm by either of them would be a felony.
Based on similar incidents, the State Police might well visit their home, and request they turn over any firearms they own, and request a “voluntary” search of their home (THE ANSWER IS NO IN CASE ANYONE HERE DOESN’T KNOW THAT).
If they’d ever made a multiple purchase, in any state, they’d be on Comrade Daley’s list.
For those of you who don’t live in Illinois, don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll never have a democratic Governor. It can't happen there.
The important thing is that if people are addicted to drugs, legal or not, or alcoholics, if they seek treatment, their guns should be taken away.
I do not wish to see anyone go to jail over trying to alleviate chronic pain, and have been saddened when Rush has supported jail time for drug offenders. I hope that he will practice what he preaches and accept jail time if he has illegally bought prescription drugs. Countless studies have shown that you get a much better ROI economically and socially when you invest in treatment as opposed to building and maintaining prisons. My hope is that this experience will change his mind and make him a proponant for treatment options for drug addicts versus jail time.
Depends on the kind of drug. The drugs that can give someone an "up" (for example cocaine) can certainly leave them less driven after they kick the habit. But for painkillers, which sedate people, they can be a lot more active and sharp after detox.
What's even more obvious is that his doctor wouldn't have stopped prescibing the pills if Rush needed them for pain. And if Rush is still experiencing bad pain, why would he stop taking the pills? The story doesn't add up. It's a safe bet that this rehab isn't the least bit voluntary.
Remember, the size of the dosage can make a big difference. People who take morphine to get "high" take a lot more. It's like the difference between drinking one glass of booze to relax, and drinking a whole bottle to get blasted.
Also, people on pain medication for the pain do the sensible thing and lay down to sleep when the medication makes them drowsy. Part of the method of getting high on "downers" is to take enough to knock out a horse, and then purposely staying awake so that you're practically dreaming without sleeping, rather like the goofy state you can get into when you haven't had a chance to sleep for 36+ hours.
It was hell. My mind was swimming, visual perception was distorted and murky, I couldn't sleep, it was awful. After a couple days I just took some ibuprofen to take the edge off the pain and dealt with it.
Rush is the man! Our family is praying for him. Dittoes!
That was sarcastic. I know, I should use the tag, but given the rest of the post I thought it was obvious.
That's the law in Illinois. If you're a LEO, the police union would have people on it immediately, so the issue would probably be resolved before the State Police knew about it but, yes, at least one state employee I posted about a year or so ago, required to carry a firearm on the job, lost her job over this issue. If my memory is right, she worked on tax fraud, and entered alcohol rehab.
If you're a citizen, no guns till you satisfy the state that you're not a threat.
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