[rightbanker]

ANY junkie takes it to get high. You think Rush took 100 pills a day because he was in pain. Maybe at first. But once the drug takes over, it takes over, it becomes an end in itself, the end all be all.

My brother died at the age of 48 after long, long battles with addiction. I saw it first hand. You just don't know how awful a road Rush is on. Truly awful.

As for robbing and mugging. Right. A junkie will do ANYTHING, absolutely ANYTHING to get the drug. It's their Categorical Imperative, their Unbreakable law.

Rush is just LUCKY. He's already got the money to buy his drugs, loads of it. But he isn't any different at bottom from any other junkie. He is no longer in control of his life. He lives for a highly addictive drug. He can say that he wants to get off, but believe me it's a long road. Most junkies that I have known through the ugly journey of my dear brother -- who was a great guy, in his own right -- have to hit utter rock bottom before they turn their lives around. And many never do, it's an endless spiral into darkness.

the only difference between RUsh and the rest is his dough and his celebrity.

I hate to say this. the man has been through detox twice. he's lost his hearing. he will probably loss his show and his celebrity will be repalced by noteriety. He may end up in prison.

But you know what? that may not be enough.

You should have more and deeper sympathy for the down trodden who lack anything like Rush's resources. Many of them fight the good fight against this sort of thing a lose. Some survive. But it is truly horrible. Truly.

Have you ever seen the movie Requium for a Dream. It tells the honest story about what addiction is like.

[Monty22]

Thank you for putting this so well.

[Sofa King]

"But he isn't any different at bottom from any other junkie. He is no longer in control of his life. He lives for a highly addictive drug."

Unless you know Rush personally, then you're really just blowing smoke out of your ass, now aren't you? Rush has been functioning just fine for the past 5-6 years, and has shown no signs of being in a downward spiral.

[TheDon]

Rush is just LUCKY. He's already got the money to buy his drugs, loads of it. But he isn't any different at bottom from any other junkie. He is no longer in control of his life.

Lucky? I doubt he's feeling lucky at this point. As for his wealth, I think luck had little to do with it.

Some, not just you, are trying to create a moral equivalence between Rush's addiction to pain killers and addiction to recreational drugs. They are quite different, both in the reason they started taking the drug, and why they continue to take them.

An addiction to a pain medication, initiated by a doctor prescription, for relief of pain cannot be equated to the first instance of taking a recreational drug to get a euphoric feeling. To make those equivalent is absurd.

As the pain medication user builds up a tolerance to the pain medication, it becomes less effective in reducing the pain for which they are taking the medicine. They may need a larger dose to continue receiving the same pain relief. If the pain goes away and they continue to take the medicine because they have become addicted to it, then you can say they shouldn't be taking the medicine any longer, but it would be unfair to say they should be looked down on.

When a person takes a drug for recreational purposes, they are acting foolishly. They are taking a tremendous risk. One choice, to take the drug the first time, can lead to the end your brother had.

I'm sorry for your brother, but do not think that every case has to turn out that way. As you can read on this thread, there are many success stories. And I think we will soon be adding another one about Rush.

[saradippity]

You have written a very true,thoughtful and intelligent post. Thankyou.

I hope Rush will enlarge on his world view and come up with some new views on many things. Maybe at some point he will even see that to call people kooks and morans for thinking that perhaps there may be a couple of unseen hands,(conspiracies) capable of moving things to disadvantage some for the gain of others is wrong and self-serving.

Perhaps,if he broadens his thinking,(I don't mean come to the support of more government programs)and sees that uncritical support of a party and persons that have lost their moorings,he may again be on the cutting edge. If he doesn't,he's through,IMHO.

Physical pain is no more and no less a problem than lack of inate intelligence.They both present difficulties that society needs to look at. Clearly neither are addressed in a manner that shows any headway is occurring. Just my thoughts.

Thanks again for your post.