Patrick Kennedy on staying sober and staying in politics: Audio | projo.com

Providence Journal file photo / Connie Grosch

Kennedy on staying sober and staying in politics

7.8.09 -- Reporter John E. Mulligan of the Providence Journal's Washington Bureau sat down with
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy on Wednesday, Kennedy's second day back at work after a month in a Maryland addiction treatment facility. The interview ranged from how involved Kennedy's father, Sen. Ted Kennedy, is in the brewing debate on health care, to how Patrick Kennedy's addictions affect his political future.

Read the story

Listen for yourself:

1. How much is Kennedy's father, Sen. Edward Kennedy, able to participate in the health care debate?

2. Rep. Patrick Kennedy describes the regimen he's put in place to maintain his sobriety

3. Did anything illegal precipitate Rep. Kennedy's decision to spend a month in a treatment facility?

4. Why did Rep. Kennedy decide to spend a month in treatment?

5. What impact does Rep. Kennedy's continuing battle with addiction have on his future in politics?

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A look back

6.05.2006
Out of rehab, Patrick Kennedy speaks at Brown

PROVIDENCE -- Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy was greeted with a standing ovation when he was introduced at Brown University this morning, his first public appearance since a car crash near the U.S. Capitol drove him to enter an alcohol and drug abuse treatment center on May 5.
Your turn: How effective as a legislator can Rep. Kennedy be now?

Listen to the press conference (mp3 format):
Entire speech (28:16 min.) |
part 1 (opening comments) (3:46 min.) | part 2 (10:04 min.) | part 3 (9:48) | part 4 (4:58 min.)

6.13.2006
Transcript: Kennedy's appearance at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
24 page document in pdf format.

5.11.06: Exclusive audio

U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy spoke with The Providence Journal's Washington bureau chief, John E. Mulligan, after announcing on May 5 that he would enter the Mayo Clinic for treatment of his addiction to prescription pain medication.

The interview took place in an automobile, as the Rhode Island Democrat was driven from the Capitol building to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for his flight to the Minnesota facility.

Among other disclosures, Kennedy, son of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said that he has abused alcohol and prescription narcotics since he was a young man.

Listen
to excerpts of the interview (mp3 file, 28:28 min., please wait for the file to download)

5.07.2006
For addicts, the craving is to be normal
You feel like you have the flu. But it doesn't make sense -- It's been weeks, verging on months, that you've been feeling this way. You're run-down, not yourself, dragging through every day. You know you can't be sick, but you can't figure out what's wrong.

Reaction among constituents is mixed
From East Woonsocket to East Providence, it seems that almost everyone you meet knows all about U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy's problems with drinking, prescription drugs and driving.

5.06.2006
Kennedy heads to rehab
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy has been a pain-pill abuser and a binge drinker for much of his adult life, he said yesterday as he sought treatment for addiction on the heels of a predawn car crash Thursday that he cannot recollect.

5.05.2006
Rep. Kennedy crashes car in D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy has confirmed that he drove his car into a street-side barrier two blocks from the Capitol building early this morning.

Read Kennedy's statement given at the press conference

View a map of the area where the accident occurred

View the police report on Kennedy's accident (pdf file, may require reader to rotate pages)