Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2003 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 Author: Jim Solomon LIMBAUGH'S PROBLEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY As a fan of Rush Limbaugh's show, I was saddened to hear of his addiction to prescription painkillers. While the left rejoices in a rather despicable display of joyful glee, the right has been quick to point out the "profound" difference between prescription drug medication, on the one hand, and heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs on the other. But this distinction is largely semantic and arbitrary. Why should Rush be forgiven his pain and chosen way of treating it, while someone with lesser means has the merciless wrath of the criminal justice system rained upon him for choosing to medicate his pain in the only way he has access to or the means to afford? The answer is that neither should be treated as criminals. Addiction should be a matter to be worked out among an individual, his family and friends, and his doctor. How will Rush respond when called on this question? I hope and pray that he will persuade his audience that criminalization is exactly the wrong way to treat this problem. This will move the debate on drug policy significantly forward, and some good will come of the personal tragedy that has befallen him. Jim Solomon Saratoga - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake