DRUG ADDICTION

You recently printed a letter entitled "Drug rehabilitation" about Rush
Limbaugh and his addiction to wit: Send Rush to rehabilitation and he'll
return free of his illness and taxpayers would save the prison cost.

Boy, talk about "pink clouding" it. The letter writer is correct about one
thing -- addiction is an illness. But he's wrong to suggest that there's a
cure. I have studied addiction to aid me in my counseling capacity, and my
studies and experience have proven that there's no such thing as a "cure."
There is only "one day at a time" recovery -- and it's certainly not easy.
It's hard work. And it's never been achieved through the desires of anyone
except the addict. Not family. Not friends. Not law enforcement. Only the
desperate need of the addict to avoid repeating the severe consequences
will drive him into recovery. But there must be consequences.

Rush Limbaugh had no problem loudly condemning behavior in others that he
is guilty of, and urged their being confined to jail. Because the
distribution and consumption of drugs is illegal, that is an appropriate
consequence. And Rush Limbaugh deserves no less a consequence.

It's rare that recovery is achieved from just one confinement in rehab.
Sobriety requires not just stopped drugging and drinking, it also requires
changed thinking, and rehab will never be successful as long as the addict
is willing to justify the addictive behavior.

Rush Limbaugh will never begin recovery until he surrenders his ego and,
frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon. Jail may be the only
consequence that will embarrass him, and damage his ego enough to start him
on the long road of recovery.

I wish him luck. And I wish the letter writer a better education on the
subject of addiction.

NAN H. HAHN

North Charleston