Cindy McCain's Drug Addiction More Extensive Than Previously Thought

Washington Post:

When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life: her battle with -- and ultimate victory over -- prescription painkillers. Her struggle, she has said repeatedly, taught her valuable lessons about drug abuse that she would pass on to the nation.

"I think it made me a better person as well as a better parent, so I think it would be very important to talk about it and be very upfront about it," McCain said in an interview with "Access Hollywood." In an appearance on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno," she said she tries "to talk about it as much as possible because I don't want anyone to wind up in the shoes that I did at the time."

In describing her struggle with drugs, McCain has said that she became addicted to Vicodin and Percocet in early 1989 after rupturing two disks and having back surgery. She has said she hid her addiction from her husband, Sen. John McCain, and stopped taking the painkillers in 1992 after her parents confronted her. She has not discussed what kind of treatment she received for her addiction, but she has made clear that she believes she has put her problems behind her.

While McCain's accounts have captured the pain of her addiction, her journey through this personal crisis is a more complicated story than she has described, and it had more consequences for her and those around her than she has acknowledged.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Athirson]

No wonder she sounded just like HeadRush PillPop when she was on the stump the other day.

[AlaskasRevenge]

Cindy McCain lied to Ann Curry ..saying John want go negative.
Watch it on YOUTUBE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0

http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

[pointyheadprodigy]

If she can hide this from her husband so well, then wouldn't that kind of skill in subversive activity constitue a threat to national securitry in the White House? That is what they would tell a two-bit pothead anyway. Let's ask Rush what he thinks.

[DCtrain]

Really, drugs are a pain-killer of some sort. So Cindy felt lots and lots of pain, probably with regard to her marriage to some old man who wasn't around much. Maybe the big issue was JM and Cindy just chose a bad coping mechanism.

[Lisette]

The McCain's just lie about anything, from meeting Mother Teresa
to the real reason Cindy took drugs. [John was
under investigation for the Savings and Loan scandal]

[NABNYC]

If she wasn't white and rich, she'd be in prison. She is a drug addict. No excuses Cindy -- cut the nonsense, nobody forced you to take the drugs, nobody forced you to go doctor shopping. She is an addict, and apparently she successfully completed rehab, which is terrific, but if she's honest she must admit that there is a constant risk of relapse. Which is true for all drug addicts. Even the rich white Republican ones.

Isn't it interesting how the Republicans are so "compassionate" when it comes to rich or powerful white people. Cindy's a drug addict but she's a role model, an inspiration, someone to admire because of that. Some poor 15 year old black kid who is a drug addict is awful, terrible, garbage, put them in prison and keep them there. Like Jeb Bush's daughter. Like Rush Limbaugh. Entirely different set of rules for the powerful, rich Republicans. Like Palin having the teen pregnancy in her family, which Republicans used to condemn but apparently now it's a prerequisite for getting the good seats at the convention.

I hope the Republicans don't start running murderers for office, telling us how much they should be admired because they finally stopped. Wait a minute what am I saying? Have I been asleep for 8 years?

[DCtrain]

Drug addiction is destructive. I support Barak, but I do not support bashing people who are bruised and battered by life via drugs and alcohol. We all need support lest we be trapped in that she got trapped in.

The bigger issues are Policies, Change and truth.

[530Rose]

I have a kid who was jailed for drug use. It has had a profound effect on his life. He was unable to obtain federally funded financial aid. He has a felony drug conviction on his record. While he was in jail he obtained no counseling for drug addiction or the anger management issues that led to it.

Was Cindy McCain charged? Did she have to go to jail for theft? Did she feel any repercussions at all? I have no sympathy for people who have done a little time in rehab, yet think that makes them an expert on drug abuse in this country.

Would she and her husband be as charitable if this was Michelle Obama, or one of the Obama girls? The GOP has certainly shown no compassion for children (she was an adult when this occurred and should have known better) trapped by drug abuse. Most of them have much more reason in their lives to be trapped by drugs and alcohol.

She should be treated as relentlessly as the GOP treats people that have a much more difficult time getting out of the drug abuse cycle. And if the Inquirer's story about the Palin boy are true, he should be drug through the coals right behind her. These people who think that their money and influence put them above being treated like the rest of us should get the chance to THINK AGAIN!

[Trueheart]

Couldn't agree with you more, DC.
Let's keep our eyes on the bigger issues and walk on the high road for a change.

[MissingAmerica]

Her addiction is sad, and she's brave to come out about it. What troubles me is this man running on values. How can a man be absent from his wife so often that he doesn't recognize she has such a serious addiction? There were children at home? How could he not see it? That doesn't sound like a man whose about family, anymore than does a woman who leaves her special needs infant with a nanny while she goes chasing after political gains. This is not a party about change nor is it a party about values. This is a party about greed, just as the party has been for the past 8 years.

[TAC]

"This is a party about greed, just as the party has been for the past 8 years."

Triple that, at least...

[nastyvirus]

Sorry to hear about that. It just goes to show...if you're a regular person, a drug addiction will just hurt everyone around you. When you're in public life, the damage is greater.

I just hope Mrs. McCain can teach others in her predicament about how to beat addiction.

(But not as First Lady, though! Tee hee!)

[SailFree]

I thought Obama said to leave family out of this!

[Melissa]

Only when it suits him.

[sleek]

Double Standard:
If this story had been about a Michelle Obama drug problem and thievery and not Cindy McCain, Republicans would be absolutely ripping her to shreds.

[JulieSA]

Not necessarily. Obama said he used cocaine back in the day, and no one, including me, gives a flip. And that was a recreational drug, not a painkiller.

[530Rose]

They made a huge deal about Obama admitting to teenage drug use, and he did not steal to support his habit. She should be jailed!

[peterg76]

If there's a "War on Drugs," does that make Cindy McCain an enemy combattant?

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

LOOK WHOS SHES MARRIED TO :)

[MJJM]

No wonder she is PROUD of her Country. America gave her a free pass!!

If this was Michelle Obama, the press would still be showing it on TV!!

[VOTER]

You are so right.

Also, if Michele Obama's father had been a convicted felon, we would be hearing

about it 24/7 BUT

how many know this fact about Cindy's dad?

He was charged by the Feds, twice.

Convicted, once.

He got off during his second trial when he was defended by a young lawyer named,

William Rehnquist.

That's right. The William Rehnquist, the now deceased, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

[genia]

if it were Michele Obama she'd be in prison.

[robjh1]

That's real nice. Drag up the past, but beware. When the Republicans do the same on McCain don't call foul play. There is another Wright story out there just waiting in the wings. Becareful. Be very careful.

[Df7702]

Your post would be more intimidating if it actually made sense . I dont think anyone here is scared of any Repubs . As far as the past Mrs Sara " in what respect charlie " Palin is the one who should be carefull . you neo- cons make me puke you run our country into the ground and we should thank for it .

[wndrwrthg]

Your Freudean slip is showing.

[nastyvirus]

Wait...where?