Breaking: Prosecutors say Limbaugh Engaged in Illegal Drug Abuse

[Fleshdancer]

http://64.4.22.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=a7d7c0df39e8a60face33736453ce026&lat=1070578954&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eabcnews%2ego%2ecom%3fCMP%3dEM1391


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Dec. 4 — Investigators raided Rush Limbaugh's doctor's offices Thursday, saying in search warrants that the conservative radio commentator engaged in illegal drug abuse and "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers.

The warrants show investigators were looking for Limbaugh's medical records, medical questionnaire, cash receipts, sections of the appointment book for Limbaugh, cancelled checks, medical insurance forms, computerized records related to the ordering of narcotics, prescription forms, records of disbursing prescription drugs.

[drfemoe]

1. third dupe

[Fleshdancer]

4. About the prosecutors?

I know other threads discussed Rush's medical records being taken, but this story is the result from that action.

[drfemoe]

5. same story

plus your link is broken .. unless I guess you're logged on to YOUR msn email account .. sorry .

[Noordam]

11. Points to ABC News

and it shows up as a story but you can not link to it :(

[kanrok]

2. Did they uncover any evidence of illegal suppositories?

n/t

[snippy]

17. Apparently just one suppository.

[DS1]

3. Yes! Step 1 in Operation LIMBURN is Complete!

Yeah, Rush, read that on the air, I hate you, and hope you burn.

[liberalnurse]

38. Me too!

:bounce: :bounce: :smoke:

[DoNotRefill]

6. "doctor shopping"???

Is this illegal? If it is, I'm in trouble...

[private_ryan]

10. I'm about to go dentist shopping

is that illegal?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=491161

[zbird]

16. It is a felony in Nevada.

snip...
"Doctor-shopping is a felony under Nevada law, and so is forging prescriptions or calling in a fraudulent prescription to a pharmacy. But the director of the Pharmacy Board says the program is designed to help abusers -- not punish them."
snip...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Mar-30-Thu-2000/news/13266349.html

The patient is going from physician to physician to get narcotics and is not telling the physicians that he/she already has prescriptions for said narcotics from one or more other physicians. The physicians have an ethical (if not legal) duty to prevent patients from abusing medications.

[DoNotRefill]

21. Hmmmm...

When I hear the term "Doctor shopping", I think of going from physician to physician until you find one willing to perscribe what you want or need. I've done this out of necessity. I got sick of my GP telling me to take tylenol to ease the pain associated with a major birth defect.

[rppper]

45. we call it double-dipping here in florida........

and yes, it is very illegal here too, unless you are noelle bush.....

i imagine el-rushbo used his on-loan talents from god to bribe a few doctors and pharmacists to look the other way.....

[Beaker]

59. I take narcotic pain medication-

and finding a new Dr. that will prescribe it is a pain in the ass. I went to a "pain specialist" once, and it was the creepiest doctor experience I've ever had. They treat you (well this one did) like a junie looking for a fix from day one, with strict rules and procedures for getting your prescription. he gave me a prescription, but i tore it up after i left, and never went back- I found an internal md who is my now my regular physician, and prescribes the medication as well. I like having just one dr. to deal with.
BTW- prescriptions are written for one month at at time, and can't be refilled, and can't be 'called in' to the Rx by the Dr.s office- meaning that you need to get a written prescription every month for the medication.

[user]

48. doctor shopping

When you go from Doctor to Doctor and get them each to give you scripts for all those wonderful mood changers which you then take to one of the many drug emporiums that make up this great land of ours so one won't get to much business at any one time and and you help keep americans on the job. Well the folks in blue suits frown on it and on occasion take away your walking papers. Not that I'd know anything about that sort of thing I just heard about it. you know?

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Duh! I could have told them that.

Unless of course we are expected to believe that Denny's has started selling pharmaceuticals in the parking lot as a side business.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. We may even see prosecution

this is entering into the realm of money laundering and class one ]
felonies, assuming he gets convicted

[Noordam]

12. The doctors WILL NOT BE COVERING up for

him, their license is their life......

[Beaker]

60. i don't see how this has much to do with money-laundering-

It's just a guy trying to get A LOT of meds on the sly, with the appearance of being on the up and up.
Although I think that it's easier, and probably more prevalent than in the past- when you used to have narcotic prescriptions written in triplicate forms, with more personal info on them, and show an ID to get the Rx filled...Now it's just a regular script, but you need to get it rewritten every month.

[Just Me]

9. The ICC could possibly charge,...

,...this moron with crimes against humanity since he has generated hatred and biggotry and violence for years and years, just to make MONEY. The greedy SOB admitted long ago that his endeavor was only a living (with no regret whatsoever of his impact upon humanity). His dedicated audience will no doubt go down with him,...as he created a victim-mindset via his hatred,...he and his followers are the ultimate victims and will perpetually blame, blame, blame and persecute, persecute, persecute. May they suffocate beneath their own stones!

[Military Brat]

13. So nice to see bush's "great American" making headlines again

:nopity:

[slater71]

20. Do you think Cheney will call with support?

[Cadfael]

14. Yahoo link

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=499&e=4&u=/ap/20031204/ap_on_en_ot/limbaugh_pain_killers

[VolcanoJen]

15. Thanks for that link, Cadfael! Party on, Rush!

My God... Rush partied harder than I ever imagined he could...

The records seized include prescriptions for Norco, Niacin, OxyContin, Xanax, Lorcet and other medications. The physicians named in the warrants are Dr. Nathaniel Drourr, Dr. Antonio De La Cruz, Dr. Lawrence Deziel and Dr. John Murray.

ON EDIT:

And, just out of curiousity, why would one be visiting an EENT specialist for chronic fucking back pain???

The search warrants were filed at Palm Beach County Circuit Court. One was executed at Palm Beach Ear, Nose and Throat Association in Palm Beach Gardens, where investigators seized five months of records from a Palm Beach pharmacy that they say support the doctor-shopping allegations.

[opihimoimoi]

18. OHOH From the looks of it, Rush the Slime Bag gonna burn some TIME

with those big hairy Fellas.

ROTFLMAO

[fishnfla]

23. Ummm, he lost his hearing remember?

I'm sure he went to an ENT at some point, He did have a cochlear implant surgery.

[LosinIt]

25. Hearing loss is a side effect of Lorcet abuse

n/t

[mrdmk]

41. Actually, Vicondin use

This was on the net and the Los Angeles Times a while back. The information was not clear as to the exact damage and to whether or not it is reversible.

[tedzbear]

57. Vicodin and Lorcet are the same thing.

They are two different brands of a synthetic narcotic which is about equal to codeine.

The synthetics opiates usually consist of either hydrocodone or oxycodone. They are both highly addictive.

[karlschneider]

31. An EENT specialist?...well, why not?...

he's blind, deaf, smells bad and has nothing but shit on his vocal cords.







:evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

33. They found something?

Rush announced on October 17 that he was going in for treatment. And just now they make it to the doctors to find out what information they have? That is fishy to me.

[Bandit]

56. What is fishy?

It is only now that accusations of drug abuse and money laundering have come out. Do you expect every one to be investigated for going to the doctor? Do you condone Rush for his illegal activities?

[FlaGranny]

51. I know three of these physicians

Two are pain specialists. From my experience, they are extremely careful about prescribing drugs. They will only give enough for one month. If a patient "loses" a prescription, they might fall for it once, but not twice. One never knows, of course, what they might do for a "friend" but they have excellent reputations.

The third one I am familiar (ENT) also has an excellent reputation and has been in practice in the area for many years. I'm guessing Rush has "sinus headaches"?

Edit to correct stupid typo.

[AlFrankenFan]

19. Hehehehehehe

Usually people are innocent until proven guilty, but in Rush's case he's guilty till proven innocent. :evilgrin:

[mac56]

54. Do you think so? Really?

As the wingnuts say so often: if he has nothing to hide, then let them look.

[grytpype]

22. I can't wait until that fat fuck is behind bars.

[UpInArms]

24. I guess that Limpbag will

continue to accuse the law enforcement and judicial offices of being liberal and when he gets to move from his $24 Million mansion into his new 6 x 10, he will accuse the staff there of being liberal also.

LMAO!

[MadHound]

26. Don't get your hopes up people

If Flush makes it before a court of law, he will probably be slapped with a five year probation, with a possible six month stretch at a country club prison. However it still might be enough to discredit him and ruin his career.

But judging from other downer addicts I've known, and the bizarre ramblings coming out of his show these days, I doubt that Limpballs has kicked his habit. If you doesn't do a stretch, I think we can all expect to wake up in a year or two to the news that he had kicked it from an OD. If he is taking even half the pills that we're hearing about, pill grinding and needles aren't far behind. And that folks is a quick ticket to the morgue

[Randi_Listener]

28. Rush on a slab

Another thought for the holidays. If he wants to kill himself and stuff his veins with that filth, he can have at it the Nazi fuck.

[Guaranteed]

42. I thought Mad said

"don't get your hopes up?" ;)

No, really, I don't wish that on anybody (except for a select few- Rush isn't one of them). I'm really not that kind of person.

[benburch]

29. And you tell me NOT to get my hopes up???

And that folks is a quick ticket to the morgue

THAT is a wonderful thing to hope for, in this case!

:toast:

[LiberalFighter]

34. How about other talk show hosts such as...

Ollie North and G. Gordon Liddy? Convicted but still highly thought of by GOP scums.

[Dr Fate]

35. "pill grinding and needles"

I agree- I dont think anyone coulsd take such large quantities of this "heroin-like" substance w/o degenerating into needle-use...

[0007]

27. I get this message when trying to make the link

"Your email message has been idle and this link has become inactive. To access the link, close this window and return to your MSN Hotmail Message. Then click the browser's Refresh button or close your message and reopen it."

I'm not good at jumping through hoops!

[area51]

30. link problem

That sounds like an error message I can get when trying to click on a link that comes in a hotmail.com message. What I do is to copy/paste the link into a new browser window.

[truthisfreedom]

32. LINK LINK LINK

here's a working link. gosh, i can hardly keep from wringing my hands and cackling in delight. woohoo! go rush! go away! permanently!

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/apmethods/apstory?urlfeed=D7V7TSH80.xml

this is so rich!

The records seized in the raids list prescriptions for more than 2,100 pills from March 24 through Sept. 26. The medications include the powerful painkillers Oxycontin, Lorcet, Norco, hydrocodone and Kadian. In addition, Limbaugh received prescriptions for the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, the cholesterol-lowering drug Niacin, and Clonodine, which treats high blood pressure.

[Dr Fate]

37. Rush is truly the 70's Elvis of the "Liberal Media"

Both men were groundbeaking in there genre- both men ended up hooked on hard-drugs & crapping in their pants...

[FlaGranny]

52. Yeah, but Elvis was one heck of a lot NICER

than Rush. He was a good guy, generous and polite. Never said a bad word about anyone in public that I know of.

[wabeewoman]

40. Thanks Truthisfreedom!

"i can hardly keep from wringing my hands and cackling in delight. woohoo!"
Got an great laugh out loud from that one. It is a perfect visual and I could relate!!

[LiberalFighter]

36. Windbag's statements

"What these records show is that Mr. Limbaugh suffered extreme pain and had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication," Limbaugh said. "Unfortunately, because of Mr. Limbaugh's prominence and well-known political opinions, he is being subjected to an invasion of privacy no citizen of this republic should endure."

--What were the legitimate reasons again? Don't legitimate reasons also mean that it would therefore be legal?--
--Being subjected to an invasion of privacy no citizen of this republic should endure??? What? There was probable cause and apparently with mounting evidence they pursued additional leads as they would normally do with any citizen and under long standing case law.--

Limbaugh, reading from his lawyer's statement, said Thursday, "Let us make our position clear: Rush Limbaugh is not part of a drug ring. He was never a target of a drug investigation. He became addicted to a prescription drug during legitimate medical treatment. He has publicly admitted this problem and has successfully sought treatment which continues today."

--Doesn't matter if he wasn't part of drug ring--
--Never a target of a target investigation?? What are they doing then?--
--Hmmm... why say SUCCESSFULLY SOUGHT TREATMENT which continues today? Better wording would be OBTAINED TREATMENT. I think they are trying to say that he kicked the habit so he doesn't look as guilty.--

[opihimoimoi]

39. I recall some other dude sayin: "I am not a Crook"

and it turns out he was.....

so Flush can deny all he wants..... it falls on DEAF ears.

Bwahahahahahahah :bounce:

[truthisfreedom]

44. anyone who spends $300,000 on black market prescription pills is part

of a drug ring. in fact, he also laundered the money by covering up his large cash withdrawls from the feds. he violated the spirit of the law in several ways and the letter of the law as well. he's a criminal. he's useless as a role model, and he's useless as an analyst or judge. he's ruined himself. he has nobody to blame but rush, the pillhead loner, the needy freak who is nobody without his dittoheads. whether he goes to jail or loses his radio show, he'll be one of the lonliest people on earth for never developing empathy for his fellow humans. he's a braggart, a bully, and a life-support system for a polinoidal cyst. he's a waste.

[NoKingGeorge]

49. Heynutty admires him.... nt

[Skittles]

55. *ALL* junkies are in "EXTREME PAIN"

either physical pain, or, much common and MUCH WORSE, *MENTAL PAIN*

[mrdmk]

43. This is too much

The records seized in the raids list prescriptions for more than 2,100 pills from March 24 through Sept. 26. The medications include the powerful painkillers Oxycontin (Morphine), Lorcet (Codine), Norco (Codine), hydrocodone (Ibuprofen) and Kadian (Morphine). In addition, Limbaugh received prescriptions for the anti-anxiety drug Xanax (habit forming), the cholesterol-lowering drug Niacin, and Clonodine, which treats high blood pressure.

I have seen what Oxycontin does to people, especially if they mix their drugs. How often did Limbaugh work? Once a month maybe. It is surprising the man made it to work, more or less on time. It would not be far out saying somebody was propping this person up.

[TryingToWarnYou]

46. Hyrdrocodone ?

I recall that as being a narcotic. Very addictive as well.

[Ganja Ninja]

47. Doing the math.

2001 divided by 6 months divided by 30 days in a month = 11 to 12 pills a day! Think he’s still got a few hidden around the house somewhere?

[NoKingGeorge]

50. Why haven't they searched the house?

How about the plane. That would show interstate transportation. One of the doctors was in California, did he obtain drugs there and transport them?

[FlaGranny]

53. And those are only the pills he obtained

with prescriptions (obtained illegally, i.e., doctor shopping) from pharmacies. It doesn't count the Denney's parking lot drugs.

[Terran]

58. Not to be too technical, but...

Oxycontin is not the same as morphine. It's a brand name for a time-released version of the synthetic opiate oxycodone. Oxycodone is used in numerous other pain medications--Roxicet and Percodan, to name a couple. It's a Schedule 2 controlled drug, which makes it one of the most highly restricted of legal controlled substances.

Lorcet and Norco are not codeine. Both are brand names for drugs containing hydrocodone, a less powerful but still highly addictive drug (it's what's in the commonmly known brand name Vicodin).

Hydrocodone has nothing to do with ibuprofen.

Kadian you got right--it's time-released version of morphine.

And one thing about the amounts apparently consumed: if Limbaugh actually was experiencing pain, he could take a large amount and still function normally. That's how these drugs work. A person who has no medical need at all will experience severe stupor on very little of the drug, but those who do have pain sometimes need large doses in order to be pain-free, and it won't affect their ability to speak or think clearly. Oxycodone is commonly given to people with chronic pain, such as cancer patients, or people with bad back pain--they live close to normal lives by using it.

[Beaker]

61. If convicted, what kind of stripey-hole will elpigbo get to enjoy?

a minimum security country-club, ala jim baaker- where he'll get to clean toilets, ala jim baaker- and casually confront his latent homosexual feelings, ala jim baaker-...Or will he get to confront those feelings head-on(well, the other way around, actually) with the burly black inmates of cellblock C in the maximum-security-fuck-you-up-the-ass prison...?