[AnotherUnixGeek]

So, are we getting rid of the dumb ones ? Is that OK ?

No and no. Many of the "dumb ones" are people with medical conditions who have been prescribed opioids for pain and become addicted. A new study indicates that an initial 10 day supply of prescription opioids has a 20% chance of causing the user to still be taking opioids a year later. The same is obviously true of illegal opioids like heroin. These drugs are incredibly addictive, and it's not OK that we write off all of the people who can die from them.

[kearnyirish2]

That angle is what makes this different from many other addictions; many of these people are getting hooked by our medical/pharmaceutical industry through legit prescriptions - and lawmakers want that addressed.

Like the crack epidemic decades ago, I see more and more people stealing to support their habits - and that is what makes this dangerous for otherwise-untouched people: the related crime wave.