Did the constant attacks on Rush from the mean left calling for his death drive him to drugs?

No, it was back pain. That drug was highly addictive and a very large percentage of people who take it get addicted. Rush is not perfect and like many others made a mistake. If I were his wife (yeah, I'm not a woman but hypothetically) I would much rather he get temporarily accidentally addicted to drugs than cheat on me with many women like Clinton-possibly giving me VD. Of course I probably would not complain in that case if he used some viagra either.