One quoted doctor, and the post-writer above, emphasize that many patients “have underlying issues like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and social difficulties, they need a lot of support.”

Hello?

Where is the evidence that the best way to tackle those issues is with the doctor who is busy handling and monitoring the opiate status of the patient?

Look, we have eye doctors whose patients with eyeball cataracts also have underlying issues like anxiety, depression, social difficulties - maybe we should have our ophthalmologists spend an extra hour with each patient to help sort those out?

And skin doctors have patients with basal cell cancers on their faces also with underlying issues like anxiety, depression, social difficulties - maybe our dermatologists should spend an extra hour with each patient to help sort those out? 

Show me published evidence that the above is more effective and efficient than referring those out to a psychiatrist or general practitioner.