> I hear a lot more often of all the people with destroyed lives by opiates
They get all the press & panic. The much, much, much larger group - they're the people who've become unable to be prescribed any pain meds (due to frightened Dr.s, 3 day state limits on Rx) and now live their lives in pain. They're pretty much off everyone's radar.
I have friends with chronic conditions (re:Rhum Arthritis) who responsibly took pain meds for years but now buy their pain relief off the street. Zero of their Dr.s are willing to Rx any opioids. Past that are the now commonplace stories of people being Rx Tylenol following surgery.
In the last year, I twice had to beg+negotiate for Tramadol. Once following surgery and once to tamper down severe knee pain so I could exercise. That latter one came with a "Don't Ask For This Again" vibe.
They get all the press & panic. The much, much, much larger group - they're the people who've become unable to be prescribed any pain meds (due to frightened Dr.s, 3 day state limits on Rx) and now live their lives in pain. They're pretty much off everyone's radar.
I have friends with chronic conditions (re:Rhum Arthritis) who responsibly took pain meds for years but now buy their pain relief off the street. Zero of their Dr.s are willing to Rx any opioids. Past that are the now commonplace stories of people being Rx Tylenol following surgery.
In the last year, I twice had to beg+negotiate for Tramadol. Once following surgery and once to tamper down severe knee pain so I could exercise. That latter one came with a "Don't Ask For This Again" vibe.