Pubdate: Tue, 02 May 2006 Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Copyright: 2006 Sun-Sentinel Company Contact: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159 Author: Peter Franceschina, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) RUSH LIMBAUGH AGREES TO RANDOM DRUG TESTS IN DEAL ON PRESCRIPTION FRAUD Rush Limbaugh signed an agreement with prosecutors Monday and then took to the airwaves to say he felt relieved and vindicated to have an investigation into his use of prescription drugs finally over. For the next 18 months, while he is under state supervision, he can't own a gun, must submit to random drug tests, can't use "intoxicants to excess" and must remain gainfully employed, according to the agreement that ended a 3 1/2-year investigation by Palm Beach County prosecutors. Limbaugh, 55, a Palm Beach resident, surrendered at the Palm Beach County Jail on Friday afternoon on a felony doctor-shopping charge alleging he obtained overlapping prescriptions in 2003 from more than one doctor. He was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $3,000 bail. If Limbaugh completes all the terms of his supervision, the criminal charge will be dismissed and his record will be clean. He can't break the law, and he can report to his Florida Department of Corrections case officer by mail rather than in person, according to the agreement. He also must pay $30,000 toward the cost of the investigation and $30 monthly in supervision costs. Limbaugh does not even have to appear in court -- the "pre-trial intervention" agreement doesn't require it. Palm Beach County Judge Nelson Bailey, who founded the county's drug court, said defendants in diversion programs don't necessarily have to appear in court. "A PTI agreement is between the prosecutor and the defendant and his lawyer. It does not involve the court. Normally, people end up making a court appearance, but it is not required," said Bailey, who addressed court procedures and not the Limbaugh case specifically. Prosecutors say it is routine for first-time drug offenders to enter a diversion program. Limbaugh entered a not-guilty plea in the case, as is typical, and he maintained his innocence Monday, saying he did not engage in doctor shopping. "From my point of view, the end result will be as if I had gone to court and won, but the matter is concluded much sooner, and at much less expense for both me and for the public," Limbaugh said during his afternoon radio show, adding that the case cost him thousands of hours of his time and millions of dollars in legal fees. The investigation became public in October 2003, and Limbaugh admitted to an addiction and checked himself into a five-week rehabilitation program. He has been seeing a psychologist for addiction treatment and must continue to do so under the agreement. Limbaugh said Monday that he already has been undergoing random drug checks. "I have not failed one yet. Folks, I haven't even craved a pain pill since I got out of rehab. I"ve not even had a dream about one. It's long ago. It's not even relevant. It doesn't even come up in my thinking or in my mind," Limbaugh said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake