www.hughlauriefaq.com

While House is perhaps one of the most popular shows on television, many viewers have called into the question Dr. House’s personal addiction to Vicodin. A real-life Dr. House, Dr. John House, has spoken out against the example set by Hugh Laurie’s character and points to the terrible damage that Vicodin abuse does to one’s hearing. When questioned, Hugh Laurie–who plays Dr. House–admitted that he experimented with the potent painkiller when he prepared for the role and found the results to be enjoyable.

Despite a caution to be careful, Laurie did speak about the pleasurable feeling that Vicodin gives. This is a terrible message to be sending to the millions of viewers of the television show House: a doctor medicating patients, while indulging in addiction and not behaving contritely for a minute. While House does kick the addiction several times throughout the show’s seven seasons, he never gives it up completely.

What motivation is there to avoid forming drug-use habits if House’s show says that by having a reason–his pain–to use drugs illegally, it’s alright, and in fact will make you a funnier, more well-liked and intelligent person. The damage is compounded when the actor himself indulges in the same.