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.
I think Rush is innocent.
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.