Public discovery is often the first step to breaking addiction. I sympathize because I was also a drug addice at one time. I undetrstand fully the "I can handle it; I have to stop doing this someday, but not today; can I ever be free?; I wish I could tell somebody about this," attitude pervasive among addicted people. All that is shattered upon discovery, and all self delusion evaporates. All that is left is a despeartion to be free. It is the same with almost everyone, not just Rush.
No hero worship here, just concern for another human being and sympathy in seeing someone go through what I went through years ago.