An excellent article !

More to the point - an opioid in any form is an opioid, is an opioid ....
A key message in the article is that the basis of the patent seems to be "controlled release" as a matter of convenience for administering the drug. A worthy objective no doubt, but which in no manner at all modifies the drug into a more benign non-addictive vehicle for pain management. It strikes me as naive, irresponsible or incompetent not to recognize this simple scientific fact !!