My Take on Rush & Drugs

[Midwest_Doc]

I am a physician and a liberal. I find the words and ideas of Rush Limbaugh repugnant. However, I know that addidction is a medical problem, even for Rush Limbaugh. I doesn't matter if his narrow (and wrong) view of the world called for harsh criminal sanctions for drug users, addiction is still a medical condition.

Let us help those who admire Rush Limbaugh realize that all who suffer from drug addiction should be given the same degree of understanding as their conservative hero - even if that hero has said otherwise.

[VermontDem2004]

1. I agree

I know what he said should happen to drug offenders but I disagree, I what EVERYONE to recieve treatment over punishment in most cases. (ex. Selling Crack to kids is an exception)

[Abe Linkman]

2. I disagree.

Giving Rush a "pass" is not likely to cause a larger segment of society to question the wisdom of our irrational Drug War and locking people up for what they eat. Giving him a pass will only cause people to say: "well, he's rich, so naturally, he wasn't punished."

Vigorously prosecute him (RICO statutes would be used against you or me), and his supporters (22 million or thereabouts) might "see" the light about the terrible consequences of criminalizing medical problems.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. I disagree.

The man was caught with enough OxyContin to kill a rhino. He had a serious hard drug problem and was using his unfortunately popular pulpit to condemn users of marijuana, a very mild, relatively harmless drug. He is a right wing hypocrite getting rich off of hate and I'd like to see him do time. I mean, I'd be in prison for half my life if I got caught with that much OxyContin! Why shouldn't he be as well? Compassion? No thank you. Contrary to popular belief, not all liberals are masochists.

[NicFed]

4. How to help-Major Media needs to be honest

One junkie, Rush Limbaugh, with an open microphone has unprecedented influence and power over the political discourse of this nation and major media outlets talk only about his unfortunate drug problem. Well this is one drug problem that affects millions!

What major media cowards need to do:
1) Introduce Limbaugh to very large and diverse audiences through his own words.
2) Engage people from left and right who understand "El Rushbo's" brand of Conservatism. There is no shortage of solid information about Rush.
3) Report on Limbaugh’s very strong ties to extremely prominent members of the GOP.

A junkie with 20 million listeners. Many of those 20 million believing and trusting in Rush Limbaugh the man, the icon, the junkie. Limbaugh listeners vote 3-1 GOP. He's hummmming along, but he delivers.
Lets use Rush the psycho to open dialogue into our whacked out drug laws as well as put to rest the lie of a “liberal media.”

[Homer12]

5. Questions for Midwest_Doc : Split Personality?

I mean this in the loosest of sense regarding:

"Rush the conservative AM Radio talk-show, and

"Jeff Christie (Rush Limbaughs real name) the Drug Addict".

I know it's a disease, yet how could/would his addiction alter his behavior in a general sense (I know everyone is different)?

How would his addiction enforce his political philosiphy or performance to deliver it on the air?

Is Rush's ability to ignore his addiction affect his ability to knowingly manipulate facts (I mean to activevly Lie and manipulate), and does this ethical dis-honesty reflect the drugs or his core personality (My take is that this is his core personality since he has been able to lie to himself and ignore reality this long)?

How could Rush have rationalized his addiction while being so harsh on those whom are addicts? I know it's deeper than just blatent hypocrisy (which is a symptom) of his double standard or rationalization.

Was he actually condeming himself, and wanted to be harsh on him for being an addict, clearly in violation of conservative philosphy (the heavy use of illegal drugs)?

Thanks,

Homer12

[Midwest_Doc]

14. Thanks for your thoughtful reply

I doesn't matter that he was hypocritical and his rationalizations are blatantly offensive. What matters is that he is ill and, like ALL who are ill, deserves to be treated. This is a true test for those of us who believe that addiction should be managed by the health care system rather than the criminal justice system.

[thebaghwan]

17. I don't think Rush will change after treatment

Why should he? Through introspection? I doubt it in light of his huge contract with mega bucks. He will come back and spout the same bull shit and hate. Remember Bush considers him a "national treasure"

[DianeK]

6. i very much agree,

let us use this occasion as an opportunity to show the conservative right wing that our compassion extends to them as well as to others afflicted with this terrible disease. I guarantee one thing, if rush's treatment is successful, he will not come out of that experience as the same man who went in..do not be surprised to see dramatic changes in his positions

[rasputin1952]

7. Well Doc...

I'm split on this.

I agree that addiction is indeed a medical problem as well as a personal one. In this situation, as in all addictions, I say treatment is the best course of action. I also know that addiction can change people dramatically and take those that would normally be 'good' people and turn them into thieves, and sometimes killers.
It is those that profit from others addictions, that I have a real problem with.

In Limbaugh's case, it is the overt hypocrisy that I find disturbing. This hypocrisy is born from the notion that for some abstract reason, people of Limbaugh's stature should not be beholding to the laws they insist others live by. In my opinion, this is the most revolting aspect of the RW; they insist subjugation of the "average" man, but they themselves feel no compassion for them.

Things might change after there is some enlightening in this arena. But what I fear most, is that those that have severe and chronic pain, may not be treated properly. You, as a physician, probably know this already, and I hope that others in the medical profession will be bright enough to take these situations on a case by case basis.

:kick:

[amazona]

8. his "medical problem" takes pain medicine from cancer patients

I'm sorry, but if you are a physician, you must know how wrong it is.

Wait until it is one of your friends or family members who is screaming in pain from terminal cancer, and can't get sufficient pain medicine, because the oncologists are afraid to prescribe the drugs. Wait until it's your father or friend who is robbed when, after screaming for death for months, he finally gets a decent prescription to give him some quality of life, and those drugs are stolen.

I have no problem with diverting crackheads, potheads (if they have a problem with it), etc. into rehab.

But a rich man who gives a go-between money to buy PRESCRIPTION painkillers, stolen from people in true pain, in true need...that man needs to go to prison and hit bottom so that 1) he can go through the 12 steps and recover instead of denying the extent of his problem, and 2) people can see that justice is blind to race and class.


the pills bought for him in parking lots were intended for seriously sick people

[Skittles]

9. I agree with that

the problem is, that disgusting gasbag will go to rehab and then return to radio still lying his hypocritical ass off and slamming people with weaknesses. I can guarantee it.

[Stupdworld]

10. i am soon to be a lawyer

and i disagree with his notions of harsh punishment for end users of some substances. however, i find that if he does not receive a criminal punishment he should change his views or criticize the handling of his own case(ha ha). But your views are shared by mine. i will not lot bitter hatred or invictive against Limbaugh taint my overall views that all addicts and users, conservative or otherwise, need medical help and an at least iota of compassion.

[zbdent]

11. My opinion is this: He should be treated with the same kindness and

compassion that he and his followers have shown any other celebrity junkie.

[Brewman_Jax]

12. Disagree

If Rush needs medical attention, let him get it.

That being said, he doesn't deserve any sympathy. Rush has made a lot of money being a hypocritical, lying, racist, mysoginstic bully. He blames the weak for society's ills, and gives the rich and powerful a free pass. He can dish it out, but he can't take it. He cried like a big baby when he caught flak for the McNabb incident.

He isn't having fun now that he has become what he despises. Let him rot in the hell of his own construction.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

13. Those that deal...

in drugs that are CLEARLY addictive or debilitating over the longer term, such as opiates and methamphetamine, deserve societal sanctions. As regards psychedelics, well, as Dr. Drew Pinsky once said, and I am inclined from my experience to believe him, "I have never seen anyone who has used psychedelics, even moderately, that did not experience depressive disease later in life(Think: Seratonin, folks). Hence, I consider unrestrained and amateur use of them to be goddamned dangerous.

Opiates have their place, within the bounds of their medical indications. Consider this: In the UK, they give terminal cancer patients something called "Brompton's Cocktail". It is a mixture of Heroin(because it is the best pain reliever, bar none), Cocaine(to combat the soporific effects of the heroin), Gin(as a euphoric) and sugar(for the taste). It was very successful in creating a better quality of life for terminal cancer patients. We tried it in the US, but because Heroin is a schedule III drug, totally outlawed, they substituted morphine. They also cut the dosage of cocaine. It was unsuccessful.

The moralists, in our midst, have turned us into a conflicted society. When one of their own runs afoul of the labrynthine "War on (some) drugs and (some) people", oh yes, it is a disease. But if is a kid from the wrong side of the tracks or (GASP) a "Darkie", well then, just throw them in the slammer. If they die, keep the body locked up. Punish the bastards HARD, damn eroders of society and morality!

Consider this: Some doctors published their findings on drug-based treatments for Alcoholics in the NEJM about two years back. They found that the use of Seratonin Antagonists(Not SSRIs, antagonists) were very, very effective in stopping chronic alcoholics from drinking and kept them stopped. But in a sidebar, they pointed out a funny thing: This study was fought, tooth and nail, and almost derailed through cutting off funding, by Alcoholics Anonymous. Seems that the originators of alcoholism as a disease(AA only has an objective success rate aproaching 25%) did not like a drug-based treatment that was showing long-term success in the 75-80% range.

Conflicted we are, and we will never show ANY success in any real numbers as long as moralists and greedheads use the WoD, ETOH, disease modalities and treatments as a source of power and income.

[Abe Linkman]

15. Remember also, that the good MidWest Doc here...

like others in his calling, can easily afford to go to as many rehab hotels as necessary. So, naturally, a rich doctor (yes, I know he's going to say he isn't rich...so, how about just "much better off than the rest of us") is going to favor rehab rather than prison.

When well-to-do docs start financically supporting movements to end jailing people for drugs, then I'll be impressed.

[Midwest_Doc]

16. Well said...

And I do!

[leftofthedial]

18. Oh yes, yes, yes!

And then we can all click our heels three times and say, there's no place like home (since the fascists destroyed it), there's no place like home (since the fascists destroyed it), there's no place like home (since the fascists destroyed it).

If the fat piece of shit died right now, it would be a blessing to the world. His followers are incapable of learning anything except the latest soundbite distortion.