A number of people in this thread are saying the answer is either to prescribe opiates, or to leave people in pain.<p>People who need opiates should be able to get them, but that&#x27;s a small number of people. Giving opiates to the rest does very little to treat their pain, and leaves them with an opiate addiction.<p>Most people with long term pain don&#x27;t need better access to opiates. They need better access to pain clinics with the range of meds and physical therapies they have. (And yes, opiates if those are needed.)