Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 Source: Journal Gazette, The (IN) Copyright: 2003 The Journal Gazette Contact: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/908 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) WHAT'S NEXT FOR RUSH? Has Rush Limbaugh's admission of an addiction to prescription painkillers and acknowledgment of an investigation surrounding his drug use damaged his appeal? Or will his fans forgive and forget? At Issue wants your opinion. Limbaugh is AM radio's most popular personality, the standard bearer of conservative broadcast commentators. Limbaugh regularly castigates liberals, Democrats, feminists ("feminazis"), environmentalists ("whackos") and others. Among those who have been the subject of his verbal wrath are users of illegal drugs. Is Limbaugh's drug use hypocritical considering his views? Does his apparent lack of sympathy for people who fall in a number of categories make him a target of ridicule? Or has Limbaugh merely proved he is human and deserving of the same degree of empathy as anyone else with a medical problem? If, as has been alleged, Limbaugh took prescription drugs without a proper doctor's authorization, is his drug use the same as if he had used cocaine or heroin? Or should misuse of pain medication fall into a different category? Will his alleged drug use bring even more attention to the widespread illegal misuse of Oxycontin, a very powerful pain medication that habitual drug users grind into power and inject with a needle ? Do you think Limbaugh's experience in a rehab clinic will change his views? He has acknowledged being treated in such clinics before. If Limbaugh is successfully treated for addiction, should he face criminal charges if allegations he illegally misused drugs appear to be probably true? If you are a Limbaugh fan, has his experience caused you to change your mind about how the system should handle drug addicts? Will you continue to listen to and support Limbaugh, or will the reports of his drug use cause you to turn him off? If you have disliked Limbaugh in the past, are you enjoying watching a man who has expressed animosity toward so many groups of people take legitimate criticism? Or do you think he is unfairly being attacked? At Issue wants your opinions about Rush Limbaugh's misuse of prescription drugs. Send your replies to At Issue, The Journal Gazette, 600 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN., 46802, Box 88, or fax them to 260-461-8648. You can send them by e-mail to Please include your name, address, and daytime telephone number. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk