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[[However, there are some MD’s that are guilty of handing out prescription medicine when the patient has no real issue warranting that medicine prescribed.]]

And that is precisely what needs to change- however- we should not penalize docs who don’t do such things and who prescribe for legit reasons- but sadly this opioid issue is turning into a witch hunt, and good people are suffering as a result- The fact is- the % of doc abuse is low (but we can make it even lower by weeding out bad docs)- most opioid problems come from illegal use- not from people having had to use prescription meds- (yes, there are some cases- but the majority never become addicted when taking it as prescribed)

‘and good people are suffering as a result-’

typical bureaucratic nonsense; why work something out reasonably, when you can overkill it...

I had oral surgery some years ago; pain from sliced gums is quite the exotic experience...naproxen (Aleve) did nothing; hydrocontin with acetominiphen (Norco) worked beautifully...

They already watch opioid prescriptions at all the big pharmacies, and when red flags go up then they investigate. On top of that some pharmacies if you go to another pharmacy then the one you regularly use they won't fill it.They tell you that you must go to your regular pharmacy. They have been doing that for quite some time. Pain management doctors are required to have their patients tested on a regular basis, like every three months. If you come up clean they want to know why your medicine is not showing up in the test.

All of this is making it harder for them to become prescription mills.

My first wife's uncle was arrested for trading prescriptions for sexual favors with women. But that was a long time ago now. He got caught because someone turned him in. Most likely an enraged husband or boyfriend.

Then we knew of a doctor in Virginia that looked down your throat and prescribed whatever opioid you said works for you. But that too has been 14 years or more ago.

So yes the problem is much smaller than it used to be. The major problem today is home brewed opioid concoctions that have no controls on the strength being created. Another problem is the theft of prescription drugs from others & pharmacies. Though I suspect those are pretty low as well.