After an eight-week absence, a “nervous” Dan McNeil returned to WSCR-AM 670 at noon today.

“As often as I’ve been through this, you’d think I’d be used to this,” McNeil said. “It doesn’t get any easier.”

He was very frank about suffering another relapse to his marijuana and painkiller addiction; how he almost decided to quit; and how he realized he wants to work again.

Here are some excerpts:

“To suggest I relapsed would be an insult to people who relapse. I returned to a lifestyle of doing weed and painkillers (in Aug. 2012)….I’m an addict. That’s not a gentle word, but that’s what I am. I can’t taste on occasion.”

“I headed to some dark places. My low is a burning desire to be alone. Isolation. My private Idaho. Sealing myself away from most people in the world.”

“I still have some game left in me. I’m glad to be here. I apologize to listeners for not being here the last eight weeks. Hopefully, I can make sobriety a lifestyle. That’s what I have to do be here.”

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While his partner Matt Spiegel welcomed McNeil back, he said, “You have to regain some trust around here.”

McNeil said, “I know that. I wear that sign.”

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Best wishes, Dan. Good to hear you again.