[Tumbleweed_Connection]

"You know I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life. So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication.

"I first started taking prescription painkillers some years ago when my doctor prescribed them to treat post surgical pain following spinal surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful and I continued to have severe pain in my lower back and also in my neck due to herniated discs. I am still experiencing that pain. Rather than opt for additional surgery for these conditions, I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication. This medication turned out to be highly addictive.

"Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. I have recently agreed with my physician about the next steps.

"Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me. The show will continue during this time, of course, with an array of guest hosts you have come to know and respect.

"I am not making any excuses. You know, over the years athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers 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. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when there are people you never hear about, who face long odds and never resort to such escapes. They are the role models. I am no victim and do not portray myself as such. I take full responsibility for my problem.

"At the present time, the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete. So I will only say that the stories you have read and heard contain inaccuracies and distortions, which I will clear up when I am free to speak about them.

"I deeply appreciate all your support over this last tumultuous week. It has sustained me. I ask now for your prayers. I look forward to resuming our excursion into broadcast excellence together."

[Captainpaintball]

What has happened to you over the last few weeks does not change one thing you have said the last 15 years. Prayers will be made, and the days in the calendar will be marked accordingly...Thank you for all you've done--now get better!!!

Freepers: Now WE will have to prepare for the all-out media assault. Now's not the time for uncertainty and weak knees. Get ready, the next few weeks are going to be a doozie!!! We will learn what liberal hatred REALLY means!!!

[Mr.Atos]

I do not doubt that he is on the up and up on this. That garbage is quite necessary and incredibly addictive with serious injuries. Just ask Bret Favre. After wrist surgery, I was one HC for a week and became addicted. Fortunately I broke it quickly. But, spinal injuries are maddening from what my PT wife tells me. And there are worse maladies for which there are NO known cures. If one has ever known a woman with Endometriosis for instance, you quickly learn to accept the addictions and do everything in your power to help... even if that means buying whatever she needs [Consider that as well... anything is possible]. So, for others refering to Rush as a hypocrit, I'd be very careful how you apply those terms. It strikes me that only those who DO NOT stand in defense of values are free from that moniker. How convenient. But, I remind you that having a drug addiction does not prevent him from recognizing the negative affects of the abuse. In fact, he may be more qualified to discuss the subject.

I would agree with you. Mr. Galt, that Rush has continued to make tremendous contributions during the 5 years of his addiction. But I'm not sure that I would not employ that as a new commercial for drug abuse. If anything Rush's situation demonstrates how vulnerable we all our to a variety of addictions. Meantime the crucifixion of Limbaugh will commence. And he deserves much of it. But the amusing aspect of the media persecution of Limbaugh will be the tremendous hypocracy they will be bathing in as they try to pike Limbaugh with what they perceive as his own.

Perhaps he should have stuck with doobage. At least then, the Left Coast Libs would been stuck in a quandry.

[huck von finn]

Rush doesn't sound good at all.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

RUSH's checking into Rehab just came across as "Breaking News" in Los Angeles Local KCAL-TV News.

Freerepublic.com Lead = 4 Hours

[slimer]

Here is a link to some information on oxycontin.

Oxycontin Addiction

[auggy]

Rush has asked for our prayers. He will definitely need them. With the help of God, he can pull through this without too much hell.

I suspect he may think he has gone to hell before it is over. We all need to pray for him daily. He has given us all, so much.

[Lexington Green]

I don't care what Ashcroft says, Rush is not a terrorist.

[jpl]

My prayers go out to Rush. Drug addiction is a terrible thing.

[Wiser now]

I don't think our modern medicine understands how to treat pain or back problems effectively. Having suffered with a herniated disk, I can tell you I have hung on to the bedpost and screamed. The nurses at the local ER thought I was already addicted to pain killers. I have had one of my babies by natural childbirth, and believe me, I'd rather have another baby.
The day my surgery was finally scheduled, my surgeon wanted to call the surgery off because the medication "cocktail" I had been taking was working and I could function most of the day after taking Flexeril, Naprosin, and Vicodin! I know people who live in severe pain because they aren't good candidates for surgery.
My son-in-law is scheduled for back surgery after Thanksgiving, and the father of another son-in-law is recovering from back surgery. After three weeks of recovery the pain is returning. One of my cousins lives in a brace.
Back problems are more prevailent than breast cancer, but guess where all the hype and money are?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Man, there are about 10 people on this forum that should be apologizing to me regarding their nasty comments that I didn't know WTF I was talking about. LOL! But that aint going to happen! Hehehe. They aint man enough!

Ray Charles could see by Rush's own words in the very beginning, that something was very wrong.

When I stated, *if* he was completely innocent of the public allegations, all he would have to do was make a brief statement stating, "I don't use drugs obtained illegally or use drugs illegally", and every FR shiit house lawyer came out of the wood work saying, "he can't say anything , not a word, until charges are filed, his lawyer, bla bla bla.....

LOL! Anyone that wasn't in a coma could figure out something wasn't right here.....

There, I feel much better.......

Those that are too embarrassed to apologize in the open, feel free to freepmail me......

:o

[tkathy]

Rush will hopefully come back stronger than ever. He is needed.

[xzins]

These are facts. Rush has verified some substance in the accuser's story.

Too bad.

Too human.

This is serious injury to conservative media credibility.

[Helms]

Before the Liberal Media Goes Any Further, Let Them Dwell On This Bit Of Recorded History (and Imus and Crew Joke About An Addiction Which Is Far More Evi l)

[Flux Capacitor]

Coming to this thread late (I heard the live broadcast), but I just wanted to add my voice to the declarations of love and support for El Rushbo. It's truly hurt to see the media piling on and on and on and on over the past two weeks.... but the grace, class, and dignity with which he has handled it has truly been an inspiration. Despite his protestations to the contrary, Rush Limbaugh IS a role model.... this is but the latest, but surely the most poignant, of his demonstrations on how to handle adversity bravely and with honor.

See you in 30, Rush. We're with you, buddy.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Sean Hannity just made reference to a remark Sen. John Kerry said about Rush last night in the debate. Anyone know what Kerry said about Rush????

[Old Sarge]

Wow, this thread got real big, real quick.

But I'd like everyone to think about one thing: For the next 30 days, Rush has been shut down. The greatest voice of conservative thought has been temporarily silenced. The Left will get a free ride, and ruthlessly attack him and the people who follow his show.

Or, will,they?

Rush is one voice, albeit a great one, but not the only one. There are 100K others here on FR that could help fill the void, and they can do it by:

Calling into EIB to voice support for Rush and for whoever takes the chair;

Maintaining the chat and news threads, both here on FR and on any other conservative forum;

Donating to FR, not just monetarily (of which I'm finally getting off my 4th point of contact, and doing tonight), but as a thread moderator or contributor;

And however many other ways we, as the conservative/GOP community of minds can.

I am not in Rush Limbaugh's league for broadcast ability, but in the words of a Medal of Honor winner of a century gone: "I'll Try, Sir!"

[mrobison]

This isn't meant as an excuse for (or an attack on) Rush, just an observation.

We are so "medication-oriented" that I can't believe it. There are "legal" pills for everything. If you are sad, there is a pill. If you are fat, there is a pill. If you are hurting, there is a pill. If you don't sit still in class, there is a pill. If you get allergies, there is a pill. If you can't perform sexually, there is a pill. If you can't sleep, there is a pill. If you can't stay awake, there is a pill. If you want your hair to be fuller, there is a pill. And, if somebody decides that one pill works for other stuff, then there's a new pill for all that other stuff, too.

This is not right and it is not of God.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[yonif]

http://www.premieretalk.com/

Rush Limbaugh Statement on Prescription Pain Medication Stories
New York, NY – October 10, 2003 –Rush Limbaugh today issued the following statement on his radio program:

"You know I have always tried to be honest with you and open about my life. So I need to tell you today that part of what you have heard and read is correct. I am addicted to prescription pain medication.

I first started taking prescription painkillers some years ago when my doctor prescribed them to treat post surgical pain following spinal surgery. Unfortunately the surgery was unsuccessful, and I continued to have severe pain in my lower back and also in my neck due to herniated discs. I am still experiencing that pain. Rather than opt for additional surgery for these conditions, I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication. This medication turned out to be highly addictive.

Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. I have recently agreed with my physician about the next steps.

Immediately following this broadcast, I am checking myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold this highly addictive medication has on me. The show will continue during this time, of course, with an array of guest hosts you have come to know and respect.

I am not making any excuses. You know, over the years athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers 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. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when there are people you never hear about, who face long odds and never resort to such escapes. They are the role models. I am no victim and do not portray, myself as such. I take full responsibility for my problem.

At the present time the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete. So, I will only say that the stories you have read and heard contain inaccuracies and distortions, which I will clear up when I am free to speak about them.

I deeply appreciate all your support over this last tumultuous week. It has sustained me. I ask now for your prayers. I look forward to resuming our excursion into broadcast excellence together.”

http://mfile.akamai.com/2493/wma/premrad.download.akamai.com/2493/rushlimb/101003_rushstatement.asx

http://download.premiereradio.net/rushlimb/101003_rushstatement.mp3

http://mfile.akamai.com/2493/wmv/premrad.download.akamai.com/2493/rushlimb/101003_rushstatement_video.asx

http://download.premiereradio.net/rushlimb/101003_rushstatement_video.wmv