[Monty22]

I'd like to see the opiates phased out as something much better comes along.

It just makes sense, progress.

[AntiGuv]

If something much better comes along then I'm sure the opiates would get phased out pretty swiftly. Lacing opiates with capsaicin or some kind of inhibitor is probably not it.

[neverdem]

I'd like to see the opiates phased out as something much better comes along.

Do you remember hearing about endorphins, i.e. a contraction of endogenous morphine. Our bodies have specific receptors for beta-endorphin and enkephalins on nerves that mediate pain. The opiates fit in those receptors like the right key for a lock. I'll be quite surprised if opiates are ever phased out.