Reply #27: I can speak about this from personal experience....

[Cappurr]

I, too, was prescribed pain pills (percocet) for a serious back injury. I have a compressed fracture of a lower vertebrae and they wanted to operate on me in the 70s. I refused. The pain got better. But as I got older, it started to become painful again (weight gain didn't much help. ) I went to a doctor and he gave me percocet. It wasn't long before I was doubling up on doses, and then taking even more. I had a compliant doctor and he and I grew to be friends, so it was not a problem in getting legitimate prescriptions. He was giving me as many as a hundred a week. Hell, I even put them on my insurance. I was definitely hooked and was no longer taking them for pain. I nearly lost my job (I was a prosecutor at the time) and definitely lost a lot of my reputation. Finally, my employer allowed me to go to rehab and I kept my job. I even started an employees assistance program. But it was a long, hard row to hoe. After about three years, I left with my reputation restored. But wouldn't you know I started using again. Went back to rehab and this time it lasted.

I am just as much a junkie as a guy who uses crack. So is Rush. I never brought street drugs or drugs illegally (although I did tell the doctor I "lost" a prescription here and there). That is the only way I was able to stay in the prosecutor's office. If I had done anything illegal, it would have been all over.

At the worst of my addiction, I took 12 percocet a day. I met a guy in rehab who took thirty a day. I can't imagine the vast amounts that Rush has been taking. I have had no experience with anyone who took that much (and oxycotin is much stronger than the percocet I took). They didn't even have that drug when I was using.

One of the side effects of percocets (and opiates) on people who are addicts is that it makes them think they can do anything. It never made me sleepy like it does to most people -- in fact, it gave me energy. I lost a lot of weight (and so did Rush). If you are an arrogant personality, this drug just magnifies that. And the only way to break it is to get some humility and take a good honest look at yourself. That takes years of therapy and attendance at meetings like AA or NA. I have serious doubts that Limbaugh can ever do the internal work necessary to kick his addiction.

You will know whether he kicks or not. He will gain weight. He will become more mellow in his opinions. His arrogance will soften. And he will be far more honest. You cannot kick an addiction (whether pills, alcohol or street drugs) if you are constantly lying or doing things in your employment that bother your inner conscience. You see, thats why you self-medicate in the first place.....to get away from yourself.

Rush's wealth will make it more difficult for him. Trust me, he may get the best treatment in the world, but he is an empire and millions of dollars are at stake. Just like Elvis, people will cover for him, get him whatever he needs, just to keep him at that mike. They don't give a shit about him....they care only for the money he can make for them.

I don't envy Rush. I pity him. He may keep his supporters, and assholes like Hannity may stick up for him, but none of them give a damn about him. Its all an agenda.

Thats why Rush is a virtual recluse. He rarely leaves his mansion, he doesn't meet the other hosts that cover for him when he isn't there, but communicates with them by phone or email. Addicts eventually live very lonely lives....their drugs are their only friend.

By the way, the second rehab I went to was in West Palm Beach. There is a great recovery community there but I doubt Rush will join it. There is also a great deal of illegal drug selling there. I'm not at all surprised that a pharmacy in West Palm was involved. Where there are recovering addicts, there are pushers.