Montel Williams recalls using his celebrity status to stockpile opioids: ‘We can get whatever we want’

nypost.com:

his illicit use of the drugs.Williams, 68, detailed his past abuse of prescription narcotics while speaking with Maria Menounos on the Tuesday episode of her podcast “Heal Squad.” “As celebrities, we can get whatever we want,” he told Menounos, 46.From 1991 to 2008, the star hosted “The Montel Williams Show” and traveled around the US to promote the daytime program.

While on the road, he was able to get opioids by simply calling the concierge at whatever hotel he was staying at and requesting access to a doctor.

Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and used his condition to get drugs. He said that he would “name the set” of opioids he desired to help manage his MS symptoms, and the doctors would provide him with prescriptions.“Back then we didn’t have oxycodone, we had things like Talwin, we had things like morphine,” he said. “I found I could call the hotel doctor and get a 10-day prescription of any drug I wanted and they would just happily give it to me.”“So I started stocking up,” he recalled. “There was one point in time when I was taking about 12 to 13 [pills a day].”Williams didn’t name all of the medications he took at the time, noting, “some of this medication does have a purpose.”He continued, “I don’t believe any of the opioids have a purpose for long-term use.