Limbaugh Hits Airwaves, Talks About Addiction November 18, 2003
News Summary
During the first 16 minutes of Rush Limbaugh's return to his radio show, the talk show host opened up to listeners about his drug dependency, the New York Times reported Nov. 17."I have to admit that I am powerless over this addiction that I have," Limbaugh, who has acknowledged being addicted to the prescription painkiller OxyContin, told his listeners. "I used to think I could beat it with force of will."
In responding to a question about his one-month experience in an Arizona treatment center, Limbaugh said, "You can boil it down to one real simple essence: I can't be responsible for anybody's happiness but my own."
He added, "I have thought that I had to be this way or that way in order to be liked or appreciated or understood, and in the process I denied myself who I was."
Limbaugh, who previously supported stricter punishment for drug users, said he avoided the topic of drugs on his program for nearly a decade because of his secret addiction. Limbaugh said he became addicted to painkillers following spinal surgery in the 1990's.
During his three-hour show, Limbaugh said he would be unable to talk about reports that he had obtained drugs, such as OxyContin, without a prescription. Law-enforcement officials are currently investigating the matter.
"This is something I am not able to be as blunt and open about now as I'd like to be," he said. "That day will come, and it will come soon."
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