Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2003
Source: Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2003 Newsday Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308
Author: Peter Goodman, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

LIMBAUGH: I'M ADDICTED TO PAINKILLERS

Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, who has spent years
campaigning vigorously against drug use, acknowledged Friday that he
himself is addicted to painkillers, and that he would immediately
check into a treatment center for 30 days to try to break the habit.

Limbaugh, who also acknowledged that he is involved in a police
investigation into distribution of black market medications in Palm
Beach County, Fla., said he began using the painkillers after spinal
surgery in 1996. He still has pain in his lower back and neck, he said.

"Rather than opt for additional surgery for these conditions," he
said, "I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication. This
medication turned out to be highly addictive."

Last week, shortly after he was forced to resign from ESPN for making
racially charged comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Donovan McNabb, it was alleged that Limbaugh had illegally purchased
thousands of painkillers such as Oxycontin. Some of these medications
have been connected with severe hearing loss, and in 2001 Limbaugh was
fitted with an implanted hearing device after suddenly losing his hearing.

Limbaugh, whose midday talk show is heard locally on WABC/770 AM, said
on his broadcast Friday that he took complete responsibility for his
situation. "I make no excuses," he said. "I am no victim and do not
portray myself as such."

He differentiated himself, however, from celebrities and athletes who
returned from drug treatment "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 here. I refuse to let
anyone think I am doing anything great here. . ."

Limbaugh also said that published reports about his addiction have
inaccuracies and distortions which he will clarify when he is able to
speak about them.

The name of the treatment center was not released. Limbaugh spokesman
Allan Mayer said, "Even if I did know, I wouldn't be telling you."
Limbaugh had told Premiere Radio Networks, his syndicator, about his
plans several days ago, Mayer said.

Limbaugh, long a fiery opponent of drug use, has wavered over
strategy. On Dec. 9, 1993, he told his listeners, "I'm appalled at
people who simply want to look at all this abhorrent behavior and say
people are going to do drugs anyway, let's legalize it. It's a dumb
idea. It's a rotten idea and those who are for it are purely 100
percent selfish."

But on March 12, 1998, he said, "It seems to me that what is missing
in the drug fight is legalization. If we want to go after drugs with
the same fervor and intensity with which we go after cigarettes, let's
legalize drugs. Legalize the manufacture of drugs. License the Cali
Cartel, make them taxpayers and then sue them. Sue them left and right
and then get control of the price and generate tax revenue from it."

Limbaugh is far from the first figure who moralized about behavior and
then was found to commit activities for which he condemns others. Last
spring, moral crusader William J. Bennett "walked away from gambling"
because he had reportedly lost millions in casinos.

Stuart Fischoff, a professor of media psychology at the Fielding
Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif., said, "It is very
possible for someone to take the high ground while addicted, and then
moralize about people using the less noble drugs, recreational drugs
or even heroin. He kind of compartmentalizes, rationalizes to save his
political and social point of view while nonetheless admitting he had
a fall from grace."

Joseph A. Califano Jr., former U.S. secretary of health, education and
welfare, and now chairman and president of Columbia University's
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, released a statement
saying, "I wish him well as he seeks treatment, and I hope that his
example ending his denial, admitting his addiction and seeking
treatment will encourage others suffering from the same affliction to
do the same."

A series of guest hosts will fill in for Limbaugh while he is off the
air.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin