I've been doing a lot of research recently on physicians viewpoints on the use of opioids to treat chronic, non-cancerous, pain. In much of th the current medical literature, there seems to be a concerted effort by many providers to dramatically reduce the number of patients who use opioids for chronic pain. The overall prevailing attitude (along with the DEA's controversial move to make all hydrocodone products schedule 2), seems to forecast a time in the not too distant future where US patients will no longer have access to their much needed pain medications. It feels to me that this potential change is, in much part, fear-related. Simply put, too much liability.
