Comedian George Carlin announced he is going into rehab due to an alcohol problem and an addiction to the prescription pain medication Vicodin. The 67 year-old anti-establishment comedian did not announce where he would enter rehab but did indicate that he planned to resume his live appearances after taking 'a little time for myself.' A spokesman for Carlin said that he entered a rehab program on Monday.

Carlin released a statement saying, 'I'm going into rehab because I use too much wine and Vicodin. No one told me I needed this; I recognized the problem and took the step myself.

'My levels of use are nowhere near the worst you hear about these days; I could easily have continued functioning at a good level ... for awhile. But my use would have progressed, I would have been in deeper trouble, and I didn't want to tolerate that. I've never been in rehab before and I know it isn't easy, but I'm highly motivated, and will do what ever's needed.'

Carlin has admitted to cocaine use in the past but indicated that he stopped using the drug gradually and has not used it since the '80s. He has also suffered three heart attacks. He has never been in rehab before.

Carlin came to prominance in the 60s with routines like 'The Hippie Weatherman' and the infamous 'Seven Words You Can't Say on TV.' He has always been an irreverant comedian and his most recent routine in Las Vegas included questioning the intelligence of people who visit Las Vegas. Carlin has also written a number of best selling books including 'Brain Droppings' and the current best seller 'When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?'