I read someplace or another than 1 in 4 people prescribed pain medication becomes an addict....well that's 3 out of 4 that don't become addicted! What ever I was reading was trying to make the case that ERs shouldn't prescribe pain meds? Nope just let everyone be in pain! What twisted thinking.
Oh by the way I was on a ton of pain medication before my surgery, I felt like a second class citizen or a criminal the way doctors treated me( except for the pain specialist) the pain doctor had to jump though countless hoops to treat people. I was in a catch 22, doctors telling me that spinal fusion was a way to stick it to Medicare/ Medicaid and others telling me I was abuseing drugs. If I hadn't been on the meds I probably would have killed myself from the pain. Turned out I really did need the surgery my spine was offset and digging into my nerves. I was on morphine and fentanyl patches...but funny thing I'm off now and haven't touched heroin.