A successful drug rehab saves lives. For Justice Renquist, it was nearly too late.

Drug addiction can happen to anyone. I just saw the recently-released FBI files regarding the late Justice William H. Rehnquist and his decade-long addiction to the sleep-inducing drug Placidyl. After years on the bench, Justice Renquist came close to ending his career. And would have, had it not been for drug rehab.

Justice Rhenquist began taking the drug after back surgery, and a decade later he was taking three times the usual dose. And even though the situation was not widely known, people noticed: according to The Washington Post, even journalists had noted that Rehnquist’s speech was sometimes slurred.

One physician said that after Rhenquist checked into a Washington hospital for drug rehab, he expressed “bizarre ideas and outrageous thoughts. He imagined, for example, that there was a CIA plot against him.” The doctor said Rehnquist “had also gone to the lobby in his pajamas in order to try to escape.” Rehnquist’s delirium was consistent with suddenly stopping his daily dose of 1400 milligrams of the drug – nearly three times higher than the maximum recommended by physicians. No wonder it was so hard for him to kick the habit.

Justice Renquist suffered for ten years. He went through an ordeal, but he beat it and was able to resume his career. Others aren’t so lucky. Don’t let something like that happen to someone you care about – get them into a successful drug rehab program before it’s too late.

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