Let's start off with this.
I'm a chronic pain sufferer.
Due to an injury to both knees in my 20s, and osteoarthritis, there are no days that I don't hurt. If you put your hand on either of my kneecaps while I straighten / bend them, you can feel the grinding.
I was diagnosed 20 years ago, and was prescribed Norco (hydrocodone) to take every 4 hours. I'm smart enough to know that actually DOING so would leave me with a monkey on my back that would make King Kong look like a Pekinese.
So - every Saturday and Sunday, I take one of my pain pills. This began when I was still working, and did all housework / shopping / playing / bedroom activities on weekends.
This was my weekly "pain vacation", and the intervening Monday-Friday with no meds made sure I never developed a tolerance.
I've been on this self-imposed regimen for 20 years now, and outside of surgery and the odd toe-breaking accident (and recently, a dislocated rib), have never taken more. Not essential to daily life, but it makes it a lot nicer to look forward to two four-hour periods every week where nothing hurts.
And now - we have a "war on opioids".
Spiffy.
So because some people are taking them to get high, or to sell to other people so they can get high, my lifeline to occasionally walking normally is in danger.
How long until my Primary Care Physician (who has been my doctor for 25 years, and our running joke is that I'm selling my weekly two pills on the black market) feels the pressure to stop prescribing them to ANYONE? Just to avoid harassment?
This is one case of collateral damage I'd rather not be a part of.