Without diminishing many of the issues raised here, I offer a link to research on pain control.  
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/088539249390154N

My fear is that the subtext of greedy manufacturers and unwise prescription may overshadow the scientific understanding of the best medical and behavioural approaches to pain control.  Abuse is a tragic problem but we must always bear in mind that many of us are likely to experience unbearable agony in our lifetimes.  The journalistic anecdotes are great, but I suggest you also include anecdotes where 1. severe suffering is abated by pharmaceutical pain control without addition;  2. severe suffering where pain control is denied (eg patients sent home from the hospital); 3. Severe suffering is controlled through the use of drugs despite physical (not behavioural) addiction, without judgemental interjections.