Restricting Opiate Use: But What about the Pain?

There is no question that Americans are prescribed too many narcotic (opiate) medications and that the potential harms definitely outweigh the benefits, many of the latter which are unproven or temporary at best. In fact, prescription overdoses kill 40 people every day, and most of these are accidental. Opiates of course are also addictive and can lead to many other medical problems.