"There are literally hundreds of patients who have been on heavy doses of opioids for years to treat their chronic pain. Suddenly they are cut down to lower levels mandated by government. They are now suffering without proper care."

Strikes close to home--in this case, right next door, where a chronic-pain person had relied on the opiates to substantially ease otherwise high levels of 24-hour pain.  Yet this individual functions amazingly well; is creative and productive.  Thanks to those drugs (and I've seen what happens when that pain gets to great to bear.)

Patient was forced to change doctors.  Oops.  New "sensitive" doc is now weaning her off opiates--what this means is TWO WEEKS in hospital, with an I.V. drip--she's awaiting the call any day--and a regimen of unproven (every patient is unique) non-opiate drugs. 

If the "cure" don't kill this person...