“And if a patient NEEDS 10mg p/day for pain, is he an addict also ?”
Absolutely. Inarguable.
And I am hard pressed to understand what situation requires that much dope, and for which an alternative is not available.
Other than cancer at end of life.
There’s probably 10 million addicts that will say “nothing else works” in order to preserve their addiction.
I have also, because I was an asshole for too many years, emphysema.
The emphysema prevents me from doing the exercise(s) that would better strengthen my back (I DO think it could be treated holistically), but muscles take oxygen to work and I need what I get to breathe, so it's a catch 22 for me.
I think I'll live another five plus years because I take it easy, but my back hurts all the time.
I've used NSAIDS for the last ten years because my Dr won't proscribe heavier pharmacuticals and I am now on naproxin (not w/sodium) which SORT'A works, but not completely and not for long.
I'll listen to my Dr because I AIN'T one, but I remember my 1960's drug daze and there were drugs that I REALLY liked that produced "comfortably numb", which at 71 years ... why NOT be comfotably numb. ?
Just sayin'